Wilfred Edwards

Private (later Captain), 7th Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Register No.: 374 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Private (later Captain) (register: Private) all Privates →
Unit: 7th Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (register: King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)) all King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) VCs →
Date of action: 16 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 14th September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Born: 16th February 1893 at Norwich
Died: 4th January 1972 at Leeds, Yorkshire
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

On 16th August 1917 at Langemarck, Belgium, when all the company officers were lost, Private Edwards, without hesitation and under heavy machine gun and rifle fire from a strong concrete fort, dashed forward at great personal risk, bombed through the loopholes, surmounted the fort and waved to his company to advance. Three officers and 30 other ranks were taken prisoner by him in the fort. Later he did most valuable work as a runner and eventually guided most of the Battalion out through very difficult ground. Throughout he set a splendid example and was utterly regardless of danger

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

EDWARDS, Wilfred. (reg No. 374).

Private (later Captain). 7th Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

London Gazetted on 14th September 1917.

Born on 16th February 1893 at Norwich.

Died on 4th January 1972 at Leeds, Yorkshire.

Memorial not known.

Citation reads : On 16th August 1917 at Langemarck, Belgium, when all the company officers were lost, Private Edwards, without hesitation and under heavy machine gun and rifle fire from a strong concrete fort, dashed forward at great personal risk, bombed through the loopholes, surmounted the fort and waved to his company to advance. Three officers and 30 other ranks were taken prisoner by him in the fort. Later he did most valuable work as a runner and eventually guided most of the Battalion out through very difficult ground. Throughout he set a splendid example and was utterly regardless of danger.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

📍 Find “not known” on Google Maps Victoria Cross Trust grave database

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

Research this recipient further

Search The London Gazette Wikipedia CWGC war dead search IWM Lives of the First World War Find a Grave Victoria Cross Trust

Would you like to honour Wilfred Edwards by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.