Private William Glover Edwards

 

William Glover Edwards was born on 1 August 1890 at Cavantillycormick, Newporton, County Fermanagh, the third of six children of farmer John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth (née Little). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cavantillycormick with his parents and his three surviving siblings, and working on the family farm.

Edwards enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 23 July 1915 (No. UD/270).

On 6 October 1915 the squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division, embarked for France. Edwards, however, remained at the reinforcements depot at Enniskillen. He was sent to France to join the squadron in 1916 or the first half of 1917.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Edwards, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Edwards was issued regimental number 41158.

On 22 or 23 November 1917 he was wounded in the left arm in the fighting for the village of Moeuvres during the Battle of Cambrai. Evacuated to the UK for treatment, on 28 August 1918 he was discharged from the army, 'being no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392(xvi), King's Regulations). He was granted a pension due to his wounds, his level of disability assessed at 30 per cent and permanent in April 1921.

After the war Edwards returned to farming, at Coa, Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh. On 7 April 1926 he married farmer's daughter Mary Jane Smith at the Ballinamallard Church of Ireland Parish Church. He died on 27 October 1973.

 

This page last updated 15 June 2023.