This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Edwards, William Victor played for Ireland Internationals: 2 : 1912 F+ E+ William Edwards was born on 16 October 1887, son of Alfred and Mary Edwards of “The Laurels” Strandtown, Belfast. Played as a Forward for: Thanet College Margate, Coleraine Academical Institute, Campbell College, Belmont School, Malone, Knock, Ulster Profession: Accountant Remarks: He was the Irish 220 yards swimming champion; and a water polo international. In 1912 he was the first man to swim Belfast Lough. War service: Captain, 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 30th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division. William Edwards may have joined “D” Company, 7th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 30th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division, along with other Dublin Rugby players in 1914. See the thread on Jasper Brett for more information. The 10th Division landed at Suvla Bay on the morning of 7 August. The first major battle for the 7th RDF was the attack on Chocolate Hill on the night of 7-8 August, when they were loaned to the 31st Brigade. Later there was protracted fighting on Kizlar Dagh Ridge. The 7th RDF was taken off the peninsula and brought to Mudros on 29/30 September and landed at Salonika by 24 October. The 10th Division spent two years in Macedonia, taking part in operations at Kosturino, north of Lake Doiran on 7 and 8 December 1915, at Karajaköis between 30 September and 2 October 1915, and the capture of Yeniköi by the 30th Brigade on 3 and 4 October. In this period the Division suffered heavy casualties. The 10th left Macedonia for Egypt in September 1917, and took part in the Third Battle of Gaza between 1 and 7 November. Jerusalem was taken on 9 December and the 10th played a part in its defence for the rest of that month. He was killed in action on 29 December 1917, at Jerusalem, and is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel [F.26].
In Memory of Captain WILLIAM VICTOR EDWARDS 7th Bn., Royal Dublin Fusiliers who died age 30 on 29 December 1917 Son of Mary Edwards, of The Laurels, Strandtown, Belfast, and the late Alfred Edwards. Remembered with honour JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel Some snippets ! ...... EDWARDS, WILLIAM VICTOR 1887-1917 William Edwards was born in Strandtown, Belfast and was a rugby international, a swimmer and water polo player. In rugby he won two international caps for Ireland in 1912. In swimming he was the Irish 200 yard champion and also a water polo cham-pion. He is said to have been the first man to swim Belfast Lough. He was killed in action at Jerusalem. http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/biogsE.htm He was gazetted .... but I have no idea what for ..... his name was included in a long list of names !! THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 SEPTEMBER, 1914 William Victor Edwards Approximately 25 Malone RFC players have played for Ireland, and 6 of those were British Lions. Malone players have played international rugby in each decade since the start of the Twentieth Century William Victor Edwards (1887-1917), Forward. Ireland, 2 caps, (1912). Until we can have our own photographs please know that this photograph is available at The War Graves Photographic Project The aim of The War Graves Photographic Project is to photograph every war grave, individual memorial, MoD grave, and family memorial of serving military personnel from WWI to the present day http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1142907
William Edwards is remembered on the Strandtown War Memorial http://www.ulsterwarmemorials.net/html/strandtown__east_belfast.html
