Alexander Edwards


Alexander Edwards VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was born in Stotfield, Lossiemouth, Morayshire. He was the son of a fisherman and became a cooper working in the herring fishery. He served with the 1/6th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders, 51st Highland Division and joined the battalion at Elgin in July 1914. Edwards demonstrated tremendous bravery and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge during the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele.

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 14 September 1917, recorded the following:

Killed in action

On 21 March 1918 the Germans began the ferocious Kaiserschlacht and on 24 March, Edwards was killed and missing in action at Bapaume Wood, east of Arras, France. For three days the Division fought in trenches, then for two days fought stubborn rear-guard actions. During those critical days of March the casualties of the Division numbered 219 officers and 4,666 other ranks, of which 2,714 were missing.

Commemoration

Serjeant Edwards is commemorated at Bay 8 on the Arras Memorial.

Freemasonry

Edwards was a Freemason being a member of Lodge Pitgaveny, No.681,. He is named on a Roll of Honour with the Lodge as follows: 'Sergt. Alex. Edwards V.C. ⅛ Seaforth Highlanders. A local newspaper reported: 'A tablet of Sicilian marble was unveiled on Sunday within the hall of Pigaveny Masonic Lodge, Lossiemouth, by Colonel S. Gair, P.M., Lodge Kilmolymock, , to the memory of the 23 brethren who fell in the war. After Colonel Gair drew aside the Union Jack, R.W.M. A. Knight read out the names. In his address Colonel Gair referred to the late Sergeant Alex. Edwards, of the Seaforth V.C., and said one of the memories he retained of France was how, on many a disagreeable and stiff night, Sergeant Edwards used to meet him with a cheerful smile. When the local battalion of the Seaforths was being formed those from Lossiemouth were a splendid detachment, who could not be excelled in their gallantry.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of Queen's Own Highlanders in Fort George, Inverness-shire, Scotland.