BRITISH ARMY BOER WAR POW & WW1 WOUNDED IN ACTION GROUP MEDALS 1942 SGT EDWARDS

Offered is a medal group to Sergeant William Edwards, who served in the Boer War & South Africa from May 1900 – June 1904 with the 3^rd & 4^th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Whilst in South Africa he was taken prisoner at the battle of 'Blood River Poort’. He further served during WW1 in France from 27/8/1914 with the 2^nd Battalion K.R.R.C as a L/Cpl, being invalided back to England in October 1914, but returned to France as a Sergeant in September 1918, only to be wounded in the foot in October, being discharged May 1920, having served 21 years’ with the colours.

Queen's South Africa Medal (1899-1902) with 3 clasps, CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE & TRANSVAAL, impressed named 1942 P^TE W.EDWARDS, K.R.R.C.; King's South Africa Medal (1901-02) with 2 clasps, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 & SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed named 1942 CORPL: W. EDWARDS. K.R.R.C.; 1914 Star, with clasp impressed named 1942 L. C^PL. W. EDWARDS. 2/K.R. RIF. C.; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 1942 S^JT. W. EDWARDS, K.R. RIF. C.; Jubilee Medal 1935, un named as issued & Army Long Service & Good Conduct medal, (G.V.R.) impressed named 1942 L. C^PL. W. EDWARDS. K.R.R.C. The medals are court mounted for display & come with copy service papers, pension records, medal rolls, Medal Index Card, casualty book & 8 pages of extensive research.

William Edwards was born in Liverpool in January 1880. His occupation is shown as a ‘groom’. He enlisted with the 3^rd Battalion K.R.R.C at Gosport on the 23/5/1899. He was given the regimental number of 1942, a number that he served with for the remainder of his army career. He served England 23/5/1899 – 27/5/00. South Africa 28/5/1900 – 28/6/1904. Promoted L/Cpl 21/1/1901. January 1903 posted to the 4^th Battalion. 23/6/02 promoted Cpl.  28/3/03 reverted to Pte at own request. England 29/6/1904 – 26/8/1914. 25/6/1907 posted to the Depot (Gosport) promoted to L/Cpl 1/4/1911. 8/9/1913 posted 6^th Battalion (Reserve depot/training unit). France 27/8/1914 – 17/10/1914 with the 2^nd Battalion. 18/10/1914 returned to England due to hernia (1^st recorded 1904. Hospital 1917 at Sheerness due to large hernia) Posted back to the 6^th Battalion. 24/9/1918 promoted to Cpl. 25/9/1918 posted to 2^nd Battalion. France 24/9/1918 – 21/10/1918. Promoted Sgt 5/10/1918. Wounded in action 22/10/1918, (shrapnel wound right foot). Home 22/10/1918 – 22/5/1920.

Awarded the L.S. & G.C Medal in October 1917. Qualified for Mounted Infantry duties 1905 & 1^st Class Signaller October 1917.

William Edwards served in South Africa with the Mounted Infantry Section of the 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was captured following Major Hubert Gough's crossing of the Buffalo River, when, in attempting to surprise 300 Boers who had dismounted at a farm near Blood River Poort, his force was itself surprised, this time by 700 Boers under Louis Botha; the latter's mounted attack completely swamped Gough's outnumbered force, resulting in four officers and 19 other ranks killed and two officers and 19 men wounded. A further six officers and 235 men, including William, were captured and stripped of their weapons and most of their clothing. Edwards W.1942 Lance Corporal Missing. Blood River Poort, 17 September 1901. 3rd Battalion. Re-joined. Source: South African Field Force Casualty Roll King's Royal Rifle Corps.