Sapper John Robert 'Bob' Edwards
24th November 1894 to 30th December 1984 age 90 years
Batman to Captain Albert Edward Odell
50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Signal Company R.E.
'Bob' Edwards on the right
My grateful thanks go to Helen Charlesworth for her help in recording this history of her Granddad;
"My Grandfather - Bob Edwards, was for a time, during the Great War, batman to Captain Bert Odell".
John Robert 'Bob' Edwards, was born on the 24th November 1894 at 72. Clara Street, Benwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The second born child of John and Ada Edwards (nee Acaster). Siblings Lilian, born in 1892, and Harold in 1899.Bob left school at the age of 12 and joined the G.P.O as a telegram boy, ( * see photograph below. Taken outside of their house in Frank St, Elswick. Newcastle upon Tyne) and later joined the telegraph section of Newcastle Post Office.
Bob outside his house in Frank St, Elswick. Newcastle upon Tyne
When Bob was eighteen years old he joined the Territorial Army, or the 'Terriers' as they were fondly known. It was something to do - the camps, the weekly drill and square bashing, the camaraderie and of course the patriotism to ones' own country.
The family were now living at 79. Hugh Street, Benwell, and Bob had moved on from delivering telegrams, to being a 'Telephone Linesman' with the G.P.O.
When he signed his Territorial attestation papers on 7th April 1913, he was 18 years and 4 months old. His medical papers describe him as being 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a fully expanded chest measurement of 33 inches. The range of expansion being 2.5 inches. His physical development was classed as good, and his eyesight very good.
He was given the service number 863 - Sapper, Northumbrian Division, Royal Engineers.
The Royal Engineers yearly two week camp usually took place in the month of June - little did Bob realise that on the last day of summer camp 1914, the 28th to be precise, that a cataclysmic event had taken place, and the greatest war the world had ever known was just about to begin.A few weeks later when the Great War of Europe broke out, Bob along with his fellow workers at the G.P.O, were recalled immediately to the local Drill Hall. On the 5th August 1914 they were embodied in service for the duration of the war.
On 16th April 1915 Sapper 863 later 463032 left the relative safety of England, and sailed by paddle steamer across the choppy English Channel. He arrived cold, seasick and hungry in the early hours of the following morning, at the bustling Port of Boulogne.Over the following few days, the rest of the 50th Division made their way from various parts of the North East of England. From Boulogne the Division were bussed, entrained and marched across the Belgian border. Almost immediately they were thrust into their baptism of fire - The Battle of Gravenstafel.
Bob's war was spent with the 50th Divisional Signal Company R.E, in France and Flanders, serving as Signaller - carrying out a variety of tasks, and as Batman to Captain Albert Edward Odell.As a Signaller, Bob was able to decipher and write 30 words per minute in Morse code. Much of his time with the 149th brigade Signal Section, was spent at H.Q, and with the constant stream of incoming and outgoing messages, it was essential to have a highly proficient signaller doing the job.
Bob, a keen singer, was known to get a choir going over the field telephone. Men miles apart would join in - the sound of their voices being carried along the cables, through the mud and slime of the battlefields, and echoing along the miles of trenches.
During those 4 long years, Bob was only once granted leave to England. He spent at least two days each way travelling via train, boat, and on foot. The first thing his mother did on his return, was to immerse him in the tin bath in front of the fire, and put his clothes in the oven to kill the lice, before she could even attempt to wash them.
In June 1919, he was demobilised from service to: 34 Clara St South Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Bob would not speak much of the horrors of the war. His private demons, he doubt preferred to leave buried deep in the mud of France and Flanders. He would say though, that he only survived the war because he kept himself so fit - he had many near misses - probably more than he cared to remember.According to my Grandfathers' military service record - viewed at the National Archive, it states that on the 9th April 1918 Bob was wounded. (Though the family do not recall mention of wounds) In the Divisional History ( The Fiftieth Division 1914-1918) by Everard Wyrall, it states that on the 9th April 1918 the Portuguese were holding a particular part of the line in a heavily fought over area near Estaires. The Germans advanced with speed and the terrified Portuguese fled, allowing the Germans the opportunity to break through the line. The 50th Division, who were nearby, took the lead and their Engineers had to blow up the bridgeheads to the town of Estaires, to hold back the advance. Battalions were on the move constantly and there was huge confusion. Messages were not getting through on time as events were overtaking them.
GOTO Personl account of the Battle of Rosierès by Captain Henry Armstrong of the 1/6th N.F.
Apparently after the war he had wanted to name a house the family were living in - 'Doulie' or similar. Le Doulieu is a few kilometres from Estaires and could be where he took refuge?
His wounds could not have been serious, as he was back with his unit very soon after.Chemin Des Dames
The German advance on the Chemin Des Dames on 27th May 1918, was a devastating time for the 50th Division, and was to be the biggest trial that the unit faced during the war.
50th Divisional Signallers. Written in pencil on the back of this photograph:
Chemin De Dames ( France) Front beginning of May 1918 - 149th Northumbrian Infantry Signal Section. Taking over from the French. A French soldier (left front) three of our lads with French helmets on. 2nd on left Peter Crawley ( used to box at St James' Hall.) This photo taken prior to Jerry's Last Offensive 27th May 1918, when he got to within 15 miles of Paris. On this part of the front three divisions (21st 24th and 50th) were in a quiet sector, after being "smashed up" and replaced later by three ( July 1918) BATTALIONS ( 1st Leinsters, 1sr R Dublin Fus and 1st N.F.)
GOTO: More details and map of these battles
One particular story that Bob enjoyed telling his family, was when he had been dispatched by bicycle to deliver an important message. Un be known to him a lot of activity had suddenly begun to take place, and the unit he was with had moved back, as the Germans were advancing. Bob was pedalling away when a bullet pinged past him - just missing his ear - another bullet, then another, this one embedding itself in a tree nearby. Bob skidded to the ground, gathered his thoughts and his wits, then got back on his bike and pedalled as fast as he could, back in the direction he had come from.... chased the whole way by Boche bullets!
I do not know where he ended up or the exact location of this event, but so the story goes , his unit had disappeared and it took a whole week before he was reunited with them again! Attaching himself to other units until eventually he was reunited with his old pals.(This story links very well with a letter written by Captain Odell to his brother George Odell a week later. Guy Smith)
GOTO: Letter written by Bert Odell to his Brother George about his escape from the German Advance
GOTO : More details of the capture of HQ by Brigadier General E.P.A. Riddell. D.S.O.
Bob on his wedding day in 1923.
Bob was demobilised on 21st July 1919. My father tells me that he had his photograph taken 'somewhere in France' - possibly at the Arc de Triumph, or Palace of Versailles, with many other soldiers from all the Allied nations that fought in the Great War. Bob was the very last soldier in the line up. I presume this was at a victory parade through Paris. The picture was published in newspapers throughout Britain and no doubt somewhere, a copy of it still exists today.
After the war and demobilisation, Bob went back to working for the Post Office, his old job having been kept open for him.In 1923 he married Gertrude Brewis, and they had two children, Joan born 1924, and Douglas born 1927.
During the Second World War Bob 'did his bit' - this time for the Home Guard. He continued to work for the Post Office until his retirement in 1959. Still active and not ready to retire completely - he took a clerical job at Swan Hunter's shipyard in Walker. He retired fully, aged 80, and spent his last years living at Simpson's Hotel Wallsend, and later Jarrow.
Granddad would say very little to me about his time in France, other than that it was terrible, and he only survived because he was young, lithe and fit. We know he had re-current nightmares of what he saw, throughout his life. Even in old age the nightmares haunted him.I was born when he was 70, and a relatively old man.
Bob Edwards in his late 80's looking out to sea at North Shields
Every year since the end of the Great War, up until 1979 when Capt Bert Odell sadly passed away, Bob - the young Private who shared many experiences on the Western Front with his Captain - exchanged Christmas cards and greetings with each other. Two men who came from very different walks of life, but were brought together by the horrors of war.
Although they both went back to their former lives and occupations when the war ended. One good thing came out of the tragedy of the experiences they shared - a friendship. A true friendship that lasted a lifetime.
Bob died in hospital on 30th December 1984 age 90 years. His eyesight having been as perfect in old age as it had been in his youth
Note: Here is the Signal Company from Odell's collection. (Capt Odell centre)
Bob Edwards (Odell's batman) can be seen clearly sitting at the front
My grateful thanks go to Helen Charlesworth for her help in recording this history of her Granddad;
Sapper Bob Edwards.
