Thomas Edwards (VC)

He stood by the gun team until its men and weapons were safe

Thomas Edwards was born at Brill, Buckinghamshire, in 1863 and worked as a farm labourer before enlisting in 1880. Transferred to the Black Watch in 1881, he served in Egypt and Sudan.

At Tamai on 13 March 1884, a naval gun team with which he was serving became isolated during the fighting. After its officer was killed, Edwards helped protect the gun, ammunition and surviving men. Though wounded, he maintained the defence and helped bring them to safety. His gallantry earned the Victoria Cross.

He continued in the Nile campaign and later served at Malta and in Britain, transferring to the reserve in 1892. He married Ellen Stone and had a son and daughter. After living at York he moved to Woodford Bridge, Essex, where he died in 1952. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Chigwell, with a later memorial marking his burial within the churchyard.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For the conspicuous bravery displayed by him in the defence of one of the guns of the Naval Brigade, at the battle of Tamai, on 13th March, 1884. This man (who was attached to the Naval Brigade as Mule Driver) was beside the gun with Lieutenant Almack, R.N., and a blue jacket. Both the latter were killed, and Edwards, after bayonetting two Arabs, and himself receiving a wound with a spear, rejoined the ranks with his mules, and subsequently did good service in remaining by his gun throughout the action.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 20 May 1884. 21 May 1884, Numb. 25356, p. 2278