GS/76991, Private, Albert EDWARDS
Aged 20
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Born in Newmarket in Q3-1899 [Newmarket 3b:506] the 6th son of Herbert and Martha EDWARDS (née FROST), of Drapery Row, Newmarket,
later of Jarvis' Yard, Newmarket. His parents are Henry and Mary in one census,
Herbert and Martha in the next.
1901 census...Albert [1] is at Drapery Row with his father Henry[40], labourer born Chippenham; his mother Mary [42] born Isleham; his brothers Walter [20] gardener born Chippenham; George [17] labourer born Chippenham; Herbert [14] born Chippenham; John [13] born Chippenham and Fred [7] born Landwade. Also sisters Bertha [18] born Chippenham; Edith [12] born Chippenham; Beatrice [6] born Exning and Mary [5] born Exning 1911 census...Albert [11] was at Jarvis' Yard,Icewell Hill with his parents Herbert and Martha; brothers George; John and Fred and sister Mary. 3 siblings had died, Beatrice seems to be one of them. |
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August 8th was the start of the Battle of Amiens. The 9th Bn were attacking the old British front line near Morlancourt at the very northern end of the line
of assault that day - (about 14 miles east and slightly north of Amiens). There is no indication of when Albert received his wounds, but the action
on 8th is described below: "'The 9th Royal Fusiliers were lent with their brigade to the 18th Division to take the place of the 54th Brigade, who had been badly handled on the two preceding days. They had had no time for preliminary reconnaissance of the ground, and the Somme Valley, with its gashes of deep ravines, was pre-eminently an area for careful study. The early morning was very misty, and with the night's gas bombardment this proved an additional handicap. The tanks were rather effectively mixed up through these conditions, and the 9th Battalion had to attack without them. The battalion were assembled on the starting line by 3.30 a.m. , but three officers and the bulk of two platoons had been placed *hors de combat* by the heavy shelling while moving up. Indeed, the enemy expected a counter-attack after their advance on the 6th, and the element of surprise was unfortunately lacking on the sector which most needed some adventitious counterpoise to its inherent difficulties. Zero was at 4.20 a.m., and the barrage fell ten minutes earlier. At this moment the men could see only about ten yards ahead owing to the mist. Yet in these conditions A and B Companies promptly gained the first objective, and D and C passed through to the second battalion objective, i.e., the first objective for the day. The 53rd Brigade then passed through towards their objective, assisting in their stride in establishing the units on the first. But a prompt German counter-attack drove them back, and in the afternoon the 9th Battalion found that they were holding the front line. This was a little to the west of the first objective of the day; and in this position the battalion consolidated in touch with troops on the right, and eventually with the 5th Royal West Kents on the left. They had lost 6 officers, including Lieutenant W. E. Hill and Second Lieutenants R. T. Eagar and A. Nicholson, killed, and 350 other ranks; but they had captured 300 prisoners, 30 machine guns, and 8 trench mortars. Taking into account the extraordinarily difficult conditions under which they attacked, this must be held a very creditable performance." This account from 'Royal Fusiliers in the Great War' by H. C. O'Neill. At least 18 of the 9th Battalion died that day. |
photo: Len, via findagrave.com
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