Private, 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Service number 47347.
Early life:
Edwin was born in Rawtenstall in Lancashire, parents Wright and Ada. His birth was registered at Haslingden in the last quarter of 1898.
By 1901 he was two years old in the census and they were living at 3, Lower Scholes, Oakworth with his parents and his father Wright was a farmer. They were right next door to Lower Scholes Farm.
By 1911 the family had moved to White Hill, Oakworth and Wright was still a farmer with Edwin assisting part time on the farm and part time at school. He now had a sister Emma aged six.
War service:
Three years after the outbreak of war, Edwin enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the West Riding Regiment on October 31, 1917, probably in response to a letter. His occupation was ‘farmer.’ He wasn’t called up straight away, but reported to Halifax on May 27, 1918 where he was medically examined. He gave his age as 19 years and 238 days. He had fair hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He was above average height for the time at 5 feet 7 inches, with a 35 inch chest and weighing 199 lbs. With a physical development described as ‘good,’ clearly farming life was healthy. He was mobilized for infantry training that day.
Edwin embarked for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force with the 6th Battalion, West Riding Regiment and on arrival was transferred to the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and joined his unit in the field two days later. He had only been at the front for three weeks when he was posted missing in action. His body was found later and buried at reference: 7A.G.9.c.1.1. His grave along with several others, was later exhumed and moved to Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine Au Bois in April 1920.
Edwin’s parents had his gravestone inscribed with the words: “Worthy of Everlasting Remembrance.”
WO-95/2247/4.
War Diary entry for the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. October 1918 In the Line. Ref sheet 57A NW.
28/10/18. Orders were received to establish posts on the track in G.15a. Zero was timed for 1700 hrs. Patrols reported this track held by enemy, so attack postponed until following morning.
29/10/18. Attack started at 0500 hrs by 2 platoons on left flank and 2 platoons on right. They were met with very heavy machine gun fire and rifle fire, the party on left being practically surrounded. They could not advance further, so they withdrew to their original line. 2/Lt Walker was wounded.
During the day the Battalion was relieved by 11th Sherwood Forresters and went into support at RUE DE PONT.
The Brigade headquarters also had a diary entry for the day Edwin died, which was very similar to the Battalion war diary:
WO 95/2245/4.
War diary for the 74 Infantry Brigade Headquarters. Between 1st October 1918 and 30th June 1919.
(Page 12) October 29th. 05.00.
Four Platoons of 13th Durham Light Infantry advanced to establish posts on Road in G.15.a.6.9. on Track running N.E. – Cross Tracks in G.15.a.1.1. and G.14.b.9.1. Two Platoons operating on Northern Flank and two Platoons on Southern flank.
The attack did not succeed as the enemy open heavy Machine Gun fire from the flanks and caused the troops to fall back on to original line.
12.00 Instructions received from Division to carry out further Advance the following day. These orders were cancelled later.
18.00. 11th Sherwood Foresters relieved 13th Durham Light Infantry in Left Sub-sector of Brigade Front.
Appendix ‘C1’
Page 16. Statement of casualties from October 23rd to October 31st 1918.
13th DLI:
Actual strength: Officers 16 OR’s 600.
Killed: Officers 1. OR’s 28.
Wounded: Officers 3. OR’s 171.
Missing: Officers 0. OR’s 86.
Total casualties: Officers 7 OR’s 235.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show that one man died on the 28th October, nineteen men died on the 29th October (when Edwin died) and one man died on the 30th October.
Post war:
Edwin’s parents wrote to the Red Cross to ask if they had a record of him being taken as a prisoner of . Their response (on 28th April 1919) was ‘negatif envoye.’ which meant that no record had been found, meaning that he had not been captured.
Later, Edwin was recorded as missing, presumed killed on 29th October 1918. Edwin was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and Victory medal for his war service and these would been sent to his father, along with the remaining of his Army pay which amounted to £6 15s. 5d on 20th July 1920 and this included a £5 war gratuity payment.
His mother Ada was awarded a lifetime dependant’s pension of 10 shillings per week from 8th July 1919. Her address at that time was at White Hill Farm, Oakworth. This is quite near to Slippery Ford which is their home location given on the family headstone.
Edwin’s father Wright Andrews died on 22nd February 1938 aged 68 and his mother Ada died on 24th October 1939 aged 69.
Edwin Andrews is remembered locally on the Oakworth War memorial and at Oakworth Cemetery on the Andrews family headstone:
The inscription reads: Edwin, Killed in Action in France Oct 29th 1918. Aged 20 years.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
National Archives. WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920.
WO-95/2247/4. 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
WO-95/2245/4. 74th Brigade Headquarters.
Oakworth Cemetery.
Oakworth War Memorial.
