EDWARDS, William
| Service Number: | 188 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | Queensland, Australia, 30 January 1879 |
| Home Town: | Gympie, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Mining Accident, Gympie, Queensland, Australia, 11 August 1909, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Gympie Cemetery, Qld Plot: CEPB-3-17 |
| Memorials: |
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Edwards served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 188 in 'A' Coy, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Corporal rising to Sergeant S.N. 291 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.
When William Edwards enlisted in 1899 in 'A' Company of the 1st QMI, under his entry in the original nominal roll for the 1st Qld Contingent, p. 2, held by National Archives Australia, his address is given as River Road, Gympie. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for 'A' Coy of the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 39, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Mrs F. Edwards, River Road, Gympie, and that his war gratuity was paid with the 6th QIB. She was likely an elderly relative such as his grandmother and passed away in Jul 1901 at aged 63. She (Fanny Edwards) is interred in the same grave as William who passed as a result of a mining accident in Aug 1909.
William Edwards was born William Henry Edwards on 30 Jan 1879 reportedly at Gympie, Queensland, a son to William Henry Edwards and Mary Ann Edwards (nee Moles). He married Florrie (Florence) Frances Middleton on 24 Mar 1906 in Queensland and they had 3 children.
Newspaper reports on the accident at the Scottish Gympie mine note he was the son in law of Mr. T. Middleton, leaving a young wife with 3 children, and was an old mounted infantry man having been on active service with two contingents in the Boer War.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 453 and 515; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier, 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks A Coy 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 39; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 80; Fatality at the Scottish Gympie Mine, The Gympie Times, 12 Aug 1909, p. 3).