Universities at War

Edward Williams Edwards was baptised on 2 November 1851 at Pentrefoelas in Denbighshire. His father was the Canon John Evans, Archdeacon of Merioneth.

In the 1871 census Edward appears as a medical student in London, but in 1876 he matriculated in Durham and entered University College to study for two years to gain a Licence in Theology. This L.Th. was awarded in 1878 and he was ordained deacon on 21 December 1878. He served his Title as Curate from 1878-1881 at Warden in the Tyne valley, and was ordained priest in 1879. Curacies in Matfen and Newcastle Cathedral followed and he then became Vicar of St Augustine’s, North Shields,  Tynemouth in 1884, and of St George’s Cullercoats from 1887-1889.

In April 1887 he married Edith Rosalie Cruddas, the daughter of the Rev. George Cruddas, vicar of Warden. They had three daughters Gwendolyn, Gertude and Sina and a son Eric.

Edwards was then called south to become vicar of Maker in Cornwall in 1890, and from 1890-1896 he was also an Acting Chaplain to the Forces, a role he would return to twenty years later. By 1890 he was Rector of Beverston in Gloucestershire where he restored the church, and in 1896 he became Rector of Dringhouses, in Yorkshire. From 1901-1908 he was Rector of Goldsborough near Knaresborough.

On 12 December 1914 Edwards was appointed once again as a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 4^th class. He served with the 3^rd Sherwood Foresters (Reserve) Battalion that was based first at Crownhill, Plymouth, and from May 1915 at Sunderland. At some point during his service Edwards was mentioned in despatches, though it is not yet known when. He resigned his commission in 1919 on account of ill health and died on 10 February 1919 at the age of 67. His obituary in the Church Times reported, “though well over 60 he continued to work until his health collapsed in late 1918. He was buried with full military honours”.

He is buried in Maker (SS Macra, Mary and Julian) churchyard, Cornwall, in a Commonwealth War Grave, with a note saying that he was mentioned in dispatches. He is remembered in Durham University’s roll of honour (1920) and a reredos is dedicated to members of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department at All Saints’ Royal Garrison Church at Aldershot.