ARTHUR CHARLES EDWARDS

Born:1898, Ipswich.

Died: 27th March 1918; KiA. attack on Bouzincourt Ridge

Residence: Ipswich.

Enlistment Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 41606

Regiment: Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Memorial Reference:

Bay 5.

Arras Memorial,

Pas de Calais,

France.

CENSUS

1901     Surbiton Road, Ipswich.

Arthur was 2 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

George William Edwards, 34, an Engineers Labourer, born Ipswich.

Sabrina Anne Edwards (nee Hill), 34, born Needham Market, Suffolk.

George William Edwards, 4, born Ipswich.

Florence May Edwards, 2 months, born Ipswich.

1911   46, Surbiton Road, Ipswich.

Arthur was 12 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

George, 44, a Railway Carman.

Sabrina, 44.

George, 14, an Assistant Stationery.

Florence, 10.

Ivy Beatrice Edwards, 8, born Ipswich.

Albert Edward Edwards, 6, born Ipswich.

Soldiers’ Effects to George Edwards – father.

Arthur is also remembered on the war memorial at SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL, Ipswich.

Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion:

An account from John Stanhope COLLINGS-WELLS, V.C., D.S.O:

Having been ordered to counter attack Bouzincourt Ridge near Albert on the 27th March, he rallied and led the exhausted Battalion in the attack himself – as usual – and was wounded in both arms in the process. Although he was wounded in both arms, he led the remnants of his battered Battalion, who took the position despite appalling enemy fire and drove the German Army back. A wounded Sergeant saw that Collings-Wells was almost physically dragged to a bunker to have his wounds dressed as he was extremely reluctant to leave his men. Moments later the bunker received a direct hit from a mortar shell and the 37 year old Collings-Wells, his second in command Major Nunnelly and two other officers, including the medic were killed outright. Sadly, his body could not be correctly identified so their personal effects were removed and the casualties were buried without knowing who was in which grave.