EDWARDS, Herbert
No. 7646, Private, Herbert Alfred EDWARDS
Aged 25
2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
Died on Monday 4th September 1916, a prisoner of the Turkish Army
|
Born in Gazeley in April, 1891,[Newmarket 3b:547] baptised St Stephens, Higham on 26th April 1891, son of Arthur Alfred and Sophia EDWARDS
(née NOBLE) 1891 census...Herbert[1 month] was at Middle Green, Gazeley, Higham with his father Arthur [32] a groom/domestic gardener, born Harleston..his mother Sophie [27] born Quy, and sister Alice [3] born Norwich 1901 census...Herbert, now recorded as born Soham, is at 2 Vine Terrace, Exning with his mother, sister Alice and a new sister, Minnie[6] born Barrow. There were also three boarders, Frank[23]and Lilly [22] Munns and Charles Gilbert[25]. His father can not be found 1911 census...His mother re married to Charles Gilbert in 1903, (her lodger in 1901) and in 1911 they lived at Radius Cottages, Exning. The registration of his fathers death has not been found. Their address later was 3 Idare Cottages, Exning. Herbet had joined the Army and in the 1911 census he was serving in India with the 2nd battalion Norfolk Regiment at Belguam. |
|
In the Great War in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) he was captured by the Turks and died in captivity. A relative says this was at YARBACHI, the camp where the
greatest number of prisoners were held. At present the position of Yarbachi is unknown other than it was on a main railway line from Baghdad.
Baghdad was the Turkish HQ in Mesopotamia until 1917. The Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery was used for the concentration of a great number of graves of
prisoners brought in from Anatolia and surrounding areas. At the siege of Kut, General Townshend arranged a ceasefire on the 26th and after failed
negotiations, he simply surrendered on 29 April 1916 after a siege of 147 days. Around 13,000 Allied soldiers survived to be made prisoners.
70% of the British and 50% of the Indian troops died of disease or at the hands of their Ottoman guards during captivity. 261 Norfolks were captured at Kut of whom only 78 ever returned to Norfolk, a rate of loss of 70%. 7 out of every 10 Norfolks died of maltreatment and disease during their captivity. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details