First World War Commonwealth War Grave - Sapper Jospeh Henry Edwards, Royal Berkshire Regiment - Royal Engineers

War grave of Sapper Joseph H Edwards.
All Saint's Churchyard, Maidenhead, Berkshire

 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them".

Joseph Henry Edwards was born in Cox Green, Maidenhead Berkshire in 1889 to Thomas Edwards, a gardener, and Sarah Ann Hollins. 

Joseph first appears on the 1891 Census, aged just two years old, living with his family and older siblings at 3 Prospect Place in Maidenhead, Berkshire. By 1901 the family had moved to 2 Boyn Terrace, Maidenhead. However, he was soon to be in trouble with the law. On the 14th November 1901, aged just 12 years old Joseph and some other boys were charged with having stolen apples valued at 3d, from the orchard of Mr. David Wilton. It seems Mr. Wilton's orchard had an inescapable draw for Joseph, who was again charged with stealing from the orchard on 12th October 1901, this time 52 walnuts. During the trail Mr. Thomas Edwards was quoted as saying, "He had 9 children and this was the first time any of them had been brought to a police-court. His boy had been a very good boy up until now and had attended school regularly." Joseph's bad behaviour was to continue.


On Wednesday 6th July 1904 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported: 

"Wilful Damage. - Having been informed that Joseph Edwards on 3 Courthouse Lane, has committed damage to a tree In Boyn Hill Avenue by cutting his initials thereon, the committee have required his attendance before the Council for admonition."

In 1910 Joseph was charged and convicted of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.  1911 he was again in the Magistrates Court, charged with drunk and disorderly and assaulting two police officer and one Geroge Rhodes of Cordwalles [sic] Street on New Year's Eve 1910. The Maidenhead Advertiser Reported on Wednesday 4th January 1911,

"A Scene on New Year's Eve

Police Officers Brutally Assaulted.

Assailants Sent to Gaol.

Jospeh Henry Edwards of Courthouse Lane was charged with having been drunk and disorderly, and also with having assaulted Geo. Rhodes, of 1, Cordwalles-street on Dec 31. He pleaded guilty to the first offence but denied the second.

P. S. (Police Sergeant) Miles stated that at about 11.5 on the evening of Saturday, dec 31, he was on duty at the junction of Marlow-road, King-street, and High-street, when he saw the prisoner, who was drunk, go up to Rhodes and hit him on the face, knocking him down. Witness went up to the prisoner and requested him to go home, but he refused to do so. Witness therefore too him into custody."

Unfortunately for P.S. Mills, Joseph was not about to go quietly.

"He was further charged with having assaulted P. S. Miles on the same evening while the sergeant was in the execution of his duty. He again pleaded "not guilty".

P.S. Miles said that he saw the prisoner on the night in question behaving in a disorderly manner and proceeded to take him into custody. When near the Rose Hotel, King-street he saw P.C. Tubb, whom he called upon for assistance. On the wat to the police station through Moffatt-street, prisoner's brother, a sailor, came rushing down the street and struck P.C, Tubb, In the scuffle which ensued, prisoner broke away from the witness, whom he struck twice in the chest."

Witnesses to the assault testified that after Joseph broke free from P.S. Miles, he then assisted his brother in attacking P.C. Tubb. One witness described Jospeh and his brother as, "kicking and hitting out in all directions." P.S. Miles commenting on the attack of P.C. Tubb described Joseph's actions as that of a madman.

The magistrates found the prisoner guilty of the assault on the police-sergeant, and a further charge was then preferred against him of having assaulted P.C. Tubb, at the same time and place, while he was in the execution of his duty. 

Thomas Edwards, brother of the prisoner and a sailor on the H.M.S Excellent, now appeared int he dock, and pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and having assaulted P.C. Tubb."

Thoams was sentenced to 21 days hard labour for being drunk and disorderly, 1 month for the assault on P.C. Tubb, and 1 month for the assault on P.S. Miles, a total of 2 months and 21 days imprisonment. Joseph was sentenced to 21 days hard labour for being drunk and disorderly, 2 months for the assault on Goerge Rhoads, 1 month for the assault on P.C. Tubb, and 1 month for the assault on P.S. Miles, a total of four months and 21 days imprisonment.  Upon being taken from the court Joseph was heard to quip, "Can't you make it up to six months?"

Jospeh can be found on the 1911 census serving his time in Reading Gaol.

Seems Joseph did not learn his lesson, in 1912 he was again charged with being drunk and disorderly.  The Chronicle reported,

"Too Many Drinks

At Maidenhead Police Court on Wednesday, before Mr. T G Wyatt and Mr. C A Vardy, a baker named Joseph Henry Edwards, of Courthouse Lane, [now Courthouse Road] was charged with being drunk in incapable in Boyne Hill Avenue, Maidenhead, in the early hours of that morning.  He was found by P.C. Gunter at 1.15 lying in the road, helplessly drunk.  The constable picked him up and brought him to the police station.

Prisoner told the Bench that he supposed he must have had one or two drinks too many.  There was a previous conviction against him in 1910 for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police.  A find of 2s 6d and costs or 7 days hard labour was imposed. Defendant said he had no money and was removed in custody."

 

On 31st August 1914 Joseph signed up to serve in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  Unfortunately, Joseph's questionable behaviour continues throughout his service with the Royal Berks.  On 20th July 1915 Joseph was sentenced to, '14 days detainment for breaking out of the billet' (soldiers sleeping quarters).  Then on 15th November 1915 Joseph was found to be, 'Absent from the Corps Parade when proceeding to the trenches'.  Joseph was Court Martialled on 3rd December 1915 and given a 9 month suspended sentence, to be reviewed on 28th May 1916.

Joseph returned to active duty, however from the 25th August - 14th September 1916 he spent time at Bellahouston Military Hospital in Glasgow Scotland with Valvular Disease of the Heart.  Joseph was then discharged from the army as no longer being physically fit for service on 27th October 1916, he was awarded a pension of 10s.

It wasn't long before Joseph was serving his country again.  Three months after being discharged due to heart disease, Joseph re-enlisted on 3rd January 1917 with the Royal Engineers in Reading Berkshire.  Later that month on 16th Joseph married Lydia Kate Palmer.  Joseph's war service records indicate that on 27th August 1917 he was again sentenced to 56 days, which was later mitigated to 28 days, unfortunately the records are unclear as to why.  However, Joseph was again discharged due to no longer being physically fit for war service on 28th August 1918. He was awarded a pension of 11s for 13 weeks.

Joseph died on 10th February 1921, he left behind his widow Lydia and their three children, Kathleen Ellen, Frederick John, and Joan Cecily.  Joan was born after her father's death on 21st April 1921.