Thomas Richard Edwards was born on 17th August 1882 at Nantyrwych, a large and remote farmstead off the Abergwesyn mountain road about 10 miles east of Tregaron, Cardiganshire. Tommy was the eldest son of Anne Jones & John David Edwards and one of 11 children. After finishing his school education he served an apprenticeship as a chemist, working under Mr T Jones of the Post Office, Tregaron before leaving for London where he held appointments both as a chemist and as a druggist. Tommy enlisted at Armoury House, the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company in London, on 11th October 1915, joining the First Battalion. He gave his address as Sunnyhill, Tregaron, a property which belonged to his parents. After spending the winter in the UK, presumably in training, Private T R Edwards (4407) was sent to France on 12th March 1916. There he saw much action with the British Expeditionary Forces before being seriously wounded on 28th June 1917. He was invalided back to Wharncliffe Military Hospital in Sheffield for treatment. His parents were notified and JD Edwards went immediately to Sheffield to visit his son, who had just undergone an operation but who was reported to be cheerful. Sadly, a few days later a second operation was felt to be necessary but this was not successful and Tommy died without recovering on 14th July 1917, a month before his 35th birthday. He never married. (Tommy’s gravestone gives a date of death of 3rd July 1917; this is not correct) Tommy’s body was returned home to Tregaron where it was met with full military honours, the coffin being draped with the Union Jack and covered with floral tributes. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Bwlchgwynt churchyard after a moving and well attended service opened by the Rev Rhys Morgan of Llanddewibrefi. Tommy was popular local figure in Tregaron, and a poem In Memoriam of Private Tommy Edwards of Tregaron was written by a Willie Bell. Printed on mourning paper, this has been handed down from his sister (my grandmother), to my mother and thence to me, and is where my search for Great Uncle Tommy began. An thou are gone. The young heart now at rest, Is still, like other hearts across the foam; And we can only whisper: It is best, He sleeps at home. He went unasked. Clear-eyed and undismayed From fair Tregaron. Very proud to make His sacrifice for the loved at home And England’s sake. Death had no terrors for him. Staunch and true, And best beloved of all hearts brave and kind; He fought that peace might brood o’er those he loved And left behind. In honour rest, far from the clash of war No change of seasons or the flight of years Can wake thee to this troublous world again, Its hopes and fears. I hope that now Tommy is fully identified, his memory will live on beyond my lifetime - as long as we remember, he will not have died for nothing.

Anne Haymes