Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
George Edwards was born on 23 November 1897 at Blymill, where he was baptised on 19th December. He was the son of Alfred Edwards, a farm waggoner, and his wife Jane. The family lived at Spring Lane Cottage, Blymhill Lawn. After leaving school, George worked as a farm boy.
George enlisted in November 1917 - joining the 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards, part of the 2nd Guards Brigade in the Guards Division. After training in England, George probably went to France in mid-1917 - just as the Guards Division was about to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres (they were present at Pilkem, Menin Road, Poelcapelle and Passchendaele) and the Battle of Cambrai.
In March 1918 the Division took part in two phases of the Battles of the Somme, 1918 (St Quentin 21-23 March and Bapaume, 24-25 March). George died of wounds at 29th Casualty Clearing Station at Gezaincourt on 15th April; he may have been one of the four casualties sustained by the 3rd Bn while in the trenches on 11-12 April. George is buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extansion (to the north of Amiens).
Guardsman George Edwards, 27896, 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards, was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.