An Officer’s Battle of Beersheba casualty pair and Territorial Force War Medal awarded to Second Lieutenant W.A. Edwards, 24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, late of the Glamorgan Yeomanry who saw service in Egypt and was wounded while leading his platoon in an attack at Beersheba on 31st October 1917, he would die of his wounds the following day and is buried in Beersheba Military Cemetery.
Group of 3: British War Medal and Victory Medal; (2. LIEUT. W.A. EDWARDS.) Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919; (2. LIEUT. W.A. EDWARDS. GLAM. YEO.) Court-mounted for wear.
Condition: court-mounted for wear, Nearly Extremely Fine
William Armine Edwards was born in Swansea and was educated at Harrow School where he played for XV against Eton in 1909. He then went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge and played cricket for Glamorgan. He served with the Glamorgan Yeomanry prior to the outbreak of the Great War but was subsequently commissioned Second Lieutenant on 20th December 1915.
The regiment would leave for Egypt in December 1915 and were involved in the campaign against the Senussi. In 1917 the dismounted elements of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry and the Glamorgan Yeomanry formed the 24th Battalion, the Welch Regiment – Territorial Force as part of the 231st Infantry Brigade of the 74th (Broken Spur) Division. The Battalion would join the offensive of Gaza and Beersheba as part of the campaign to drive the Turks out of Egypt and Palestine. Their first action came on the 31st October 1917 when the 24th Welch and the 25th Royal Welsh Fusiliers gallantly stormed strong Turkish trenches, carried them out and advanced nearly two miles into enemy territory. Lieutenant Edwards was however, mortally wounded while leading his platoon in the attack and died the following day. Edwards is buried at Beersheba Military Cemetery, Syria.