Wilfrid Edwards ["Tales of the V.C."], item 5

• December 21, 2017 21:31:35 Thomas A. Lingner

  Tales of the V.C.

  Pte Wilfrid Edwards, of the K.O.Y.L.I.

  by Lieut. J. P. Lloyd

  
  

    Private Wilfrid Edwards of the King's Own Yorkshire

  Light Infantry was awarded the V.C for an act of unflinching

  bravery which turned the scale at a critical stage of an attack.

  When his company were making their way towards their objective

  they were met by intense machine gun and rifle fire from a strong

  concrete artillery. The company suffered severe casualties, all the

  officers were either killed or wounded, and the advance was

  checked.

    Private Edwards waited for no orders. Without a moment's 

  hesitation he dashed forward in the direction of the blockhouse,

  the occupants of which, foreseeing his intentions, concentrated

  their fire upon him. By a miracle, he passed through the rain

  of bullets and reached the blockhouse without being touched.

    He shouted to the astonished Germans to lay down their

  arms and surrender, and added force to his arguments by tossing

  a few bombs through the loopholes. The survivors decided that

  discretion was by far the better part of valour, and did as they

  were ordered.

    The victorious Yorkshireman immediately climbed on to

  the roof of the emplacement, and signalled his comrades to 

  advance.

    When the Company arrived on the scene they found Private

  Edwards marshalling his discomfited prisoners, to the number of

  three officers and thirty other ranks. The opinion of the 

  Germans on the subject has not been recorded. But there can be

  no doubt that by his prompt decision and unhesitating fearlessness

  in facing what was apparently certain death, he was the means of

  saving many lives, and that otherwise the Battalion must have

  been held up in its advance.

    His conduct throughout the day was marked by the same

  gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great endurance as a 

  company runner, carrying messages along the line and back to

  Headquarters under the most intense shell-fire. When eventually 

  the Battalion was relieved, he rendered great services as a guide,

  leading the greater part of it back in safety over the most

  difficult ground.

    This is a simple record of a man who had not only high

  qualities of bravery and resourcefulness, but, in a very trying

  emergency, proved himself to be a true leader of men.

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