Frederick Jeremiah Edwards

He silenced the machine gun which stopped the whole advance.

Frederick Jeremiah Edwards was born at Queenstown, County Cork, on 3 October 1894. Educated at the Royal Hibernian Military School, he first joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a boy. He re-enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment in 1914 and reached France with its 12th Battalion in July 1915.

At Thiepval on 26 September 1916, machine-gun fire halted the advance and officers became casualties. Edwards acted on his own initiative, rushed the position with grenades and silenced the gun. His intervention restored the attack and earned the Victoria Cross.

Captured near Amiens in April 1918, he survived captivity and was demobilised in 1919. He returned to civilian employment and later became mace-bearer to the Mayor of Richmond. After a disabling stroke, he entered the Royal Star and Garter Home at Richmond, where he died on 9 March 1964.

Official Victoria Cross citation (London Gazette, 25 November 1916):

For most conspicuous bravery and resource. His part of the line was held up by machine-gun fire, and all officers had become casualties. There was confusion and indication of retirement.

Private Edwards, grasping the situation, on his own initiative dashed out alone towards the gun, which he knocked out with bombs.

This very gallant act, coupled with great presence of mind and a total disregard of personal danger, made further advance possible and cleared up a dangerous situation.