Alexander Edwards

Alexander Edwards
Sjt. Alexander Edwards, V.C.
Born	4 November 1885 Stotfield, Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
Died	24 March 1918 (aged 32) Bapaume Wood, near Arras, France
Buried	Remembered on the Arras Memorial
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914 - 1918
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	1/6th (Morayshire) Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders, 51st Highland
Battles/wars	First World War Battle of Passchendaele Battle of Pilckem Ridge  (WIA) German spring offensive  †
Awards	Victoria Cross

Alexander Edwards VC (4 November 1885 – 24 March 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Stotfield, Lossiemouth, Morayshire. He was the son of a fisherman and became a cooper working in the herring fishery. He served with the 1/6th (Morayshire) Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders, 51st Highland Division and joined the battalion at Elgin in July 1914. Edwards demonstrated tremendous bravery and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge during the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele.

Citation[]

An extract from the London Gazette, dated 14 September 1917, recorded the following:

For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when, having located a hostile machine gun in a wood, he, with great dash and courage, led some men against it, killed all the team and captured the gun. Later, when a sniper was causing casualties, he crawled out to stalk him, and although badly wounded in the arm, went on and killed him. One officer only was now left with the company, and, realising that the success of the operation depended on the capture of the furthest objective, Serjt. Edwards, regardless of his wound, led his men on till this objective was captured. He subsequently showed great skill in consolidating his position, and very great daring in personal reconnaissance. Although again twice wounded on the following day, this very gallant N.C.O. maintained throughout a complete disregard for personal safety, and his high example of coolness and determination engendered a fine fighting spirit in his men.^[1]

Killed in action[]

On 21 March 1918 the Germans began the ferocious Kaiserschlacht (Spring Offensive) and on 24 March, Edwards was killed and missing in action^{[clarification needed]} at Bapaume Wood, east of Arras, France.^{[citation needed]}

Passchendaele before and after the battle.

Commemoration[]

Serjeant Edwards is commemorated at Bay 8 on the Arras Memorial.^[2]

The medal[]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of Queen's Own Highlanders in Fort George, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

References[]

Further reading[]

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)

External links[]

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission