Major William Mordaunt Marsh Edwards, (7 May 1855 – 17 September 1912) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Early life

Edwards was the son and heir of Henry William Bartholomew, of

Hardingham Hardingham is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It covers an area of 4 square miles (9.78 km) with a population of 274 in 110 households at the 2001 census, decreasing to a population of 267 in 107 households at the 2011 Census. ...

Hall,

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

. He was educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England * Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States * Éton, a commune in the Meuse dep ...

and

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

. He did not take a degree at Cambridge, but joined the Army. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on the Unattached List on 22 March 1876, and in January 1877 joined the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, with the rank of lieutenant.

Victoria Cross

Edwards was 27 years old, and serving as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

in the 2nd Battalion,

The Highland Light Infantry The Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881. It took part in the First and Second World Wars, until it was amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959 to form the Royal Highland Fusil ...

, during the British occupation of Egypt when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 September 1882 at

Tel-el-Kebir Tell El Kebir ( ar, التل الكبير lit."the great mound") is 110 km north-north-east of Cairo and 75 kilometres south of Port Said on the edge of the Egyptian desert at the altitude of 29 m. Administratively, it is a part of the Isma ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

, Lieutenant Edwards led a party of the Highland Light Infantry to storm a redoubt. The lieutenant who was in advance of his party, rushed alone into the battery, killed the artillery officer in charge and was himself knocked down by a gunner with a rammer and was rescued only by the timely arrival of three men of his regiment. He was severely wounded.

Later career

Edwards was promoted to captain on 23 March 1887. He served as

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

of the 3rd Battalion, HLI, from 1 January 1892, until 1 November 1893, and was promoted to major on 4 September 1895. Edwards retired from the army on 11 November 1896. On 19 February 1899, on the nomination of

Lord Belper Baron Belper, of Belper in the County of Derbyshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1856 for the Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper, Edward Strutt, Chancellor of the Duchy o ...

, he was appointed one of the

Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms His Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms is a bodyguard to the British Monarch. Until 17 March 1834, they were known as The Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. Formation The corps was formed as the Troop of G ...

, and on 13 August 1900 he was commissioned as a deputy lieutenant of the County of Norfolk.

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Norfolk)'' * 1855 births 1912 deaths Highland Light Infantry officers British Army personnel of the Anglo-Egyptian War British recipients of the Victoria Cross Deputy Lieutenants of Norfolk People from Breckland District People educated at Eton College Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms 74th Highlanders officers Military personnel from Norfolk Burials in Norfolk British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross {{UK-army-bio-stub