TOPIC:

Edwards was one of a surprisingly large number of chaps who, in late Victorian England tried their hand at sea before trading in their sea-legs for the life of a policeman or soldier.

Frederick Samuel Edwards

Able Seaman - Royal Navy
Sergeant, Cape Mounted Rifles
Lance Corporal, Cape Police District I – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and Orange Free State to 1947 L. CPL. F.S. EDWARDS, CAPE POLICE D.1
- Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 1947 L. CPL. F.S. EDWARDS, CAPE POLICE D.1

Frederick Edwards was a man who saw service in two branches of the Services – he started out with the Royal Navy before emigrating to South Africa where he served first with the Cape Mounted Rifles and then, in the Boer War, with the Cape Police.

Edwards was born in Penryn, Cornwall on 11 May 1866 the son of William Henry Edwards, a Police Officer, and his wife Elizabeth Ann. Mrs Edwards is conspicuous by her absence in the 1871 England census where Mr Edwards senior is recorded as a Widower. Fred’s siblings Emily (20), Alma (15) and younger brother Edgar (2) – and possibly the reason why Mrs Edwards was no longer with us - made up the numbers in the house in Truro Lane with Emily doing the honours as Housekeeper.

The 1881 England census shows the picture to be little changed save for the fact that Fred is now a school boy of 14. Later that year, on 1 November a very young Fred signed on for service with the Royal Navy for service of 10 years. His physical description showed us that he was 5 feet 2 ½ inches in height with light hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion.

Being under age he was initially classed as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Shore Establishment “Ganges”. A year later, on 8 November 1882, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class a rank he held until 24 May 1883 when he was transferred to the “Impregnable” until 13 September 1883 when he was posted to the “Agincourt”. It was whilst stationed here that he became an Ordinary Seaman on the occasion of his 18th birthday – 11 May 1884.

From there it was on to the “Adelaide” for a short period – from 10 September until 23 October 1884 and then to the “Himalaya” until 3 September 1886. Edwards received promotion to Able Seaman rank aboard her on 1 November 1885. From 4 September 1886 until 21 December 1889 he served either aboard the “Cambridge” or the “Defiance” until he went ashore securing his discharge by purchase whilst at Simon’s Town in the Cape Colony of South Africa on that day, having spent the past nine months aboard the “Curacoa”. Having parted with £12 for the privilege it appeared that Edwards had every intention of remaining in South Africa.

This turned out to be the case and Edwards enlisted at Cape Town on 20 November 1891 as a 2nd Class Private with the Cape Mounted Rifles. Assigned No 2302 he was posted to ‘D’ Troop on 1 april 1892 where he remained until being transferred to ‘F’ Squadron on 1September 1892. It wasn’t all plain sailing - on 29.11.92 he was charged with being “Drunk returning to his station off duty and abusing his troop horse” – he was Admonished on the first charge and awarded 6 Days CB for the second charge.

On 12 December 1892 he was charged with being ‘Absent from evening stables’ and Admonished. Promotion to the rank of Temporary Corporal came on 6 March 1894 and on 13 August of that year he was charged with ‘Drunk on the Line of March’ and Fined 10 Shillings – this also led to reduction in rank to 1st Class Private on 1 February 1895. Possibly as a result of this Edwards purchased his discharge for £6 on 31 May 1895. His discharge papers were damning – they referred to his Education as ‘Indifferent’, his Sobriety as ‘Indifferent’, his Zeal ‘ Fair’, and his Efficiency ‘Fair’

Edwards next joined the ranks of the Cape Police, District 1 completing the Candidate’s Paper for service at East London on 28 March 1896. Now aged 29 he confirmed that he was 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighed 166 pounds. He claimed to have been a Labourer by occupation and stated that he had been in South Africa for 6 years and that he could speak English and “a little Dutch and Kaffir”. Still single he confirmed that he had resigned from the C.M.R. in order to join the Cape Police.

Assigned the rank of 3rd Class Private (Trooper) and no. 1070 he commenced his service at King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape. Possibly as a result of his previous service and experience he was first a Lance Corporal and then promoted to Sergeant in charge of Police at Maraisberg.

His duties would not have been very onerous – at that point in the Colony’s life the biggest problem was stock theft and he would have had to travel vast distances on horseback to chase down suspects and investigate cases. There would, doubtless, also have ben instances of domestic strife that he would have been called upon to mediate or intervene in.

Finding the life of a country policeman to his liking Edwards re-enlisted at Craddock on 4 May 1899 for a further three years and was assigned No. 1947 and the rank of 1st Class Private. He would scarcely have been aware that in a matter of five months’ time his services would be required against the Boer Republics to the north of where he was stationed.

Interestingly the fact sheet completed in respect of him this time round revealed that he was now 33 years old, 5 feet 9 inches in height and with blue eyes, light brown hair and a fresh complexion. By way of distinguishing marks about his person he sported a bullet mark on his left leg. Barbed wire marks on his right leg and a scar on his left forearm.

The Anglo Boer War started in earnest on 11 October 1899 with the Boers invading Natal and moving southwards from the Orange Free State towards the Eastern Cape area where Edwards was stationed. Edwards was part of a small force of Cape Police guarding the bridge over the Orange River (the border between the Orange Free State and the Cape Colony) at Norval’s Pont. On Wednesday November 1st 1899, General Esias Reinier Grobler, Head Commandant of the Southern Division of the Burgher Forces of the Orange Free State, seized Norvalspont and General HJ Schoeman and General Grobler on the evenings of 1st and 2nd November attacked the bridges at Norvalspont, Bethulie and took control of them. Edwards was taken Prisoner by the Boers during this engagement but was later released, the Boers finding it onerous to keep and feed prisoners of war.

On 1 February 1902 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and discharged on 31 July 1902 – he was awarded the Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps to his Queens medal showing that he was active in both areas. He also earned the Kings medal having served throughout the war until peace was declared on 31 May 1902.

Edwards’ medals were initially returned to the Mint in 1908 and re-issued to him in 1921. He had been promoted to Lance Corporal by the time he was discharged. What happened to him after that is a mystery.

I thought you said that the KSA was missing !!!

I was pleasantly surprised when the medal arrived and it was a QSA/KSA pair!

I have been trying to phone you and have left several messages.to share this news with you.

Regards

Rory

I am glad to see that the medals are still together. That little pair went all around the Cape with me back in 2009.

I am on the folks farm in the Magaliesberg, cell phone in the cupboard and this is the first time on the lap top in a week. Good to just switch off for a while !!

Cheers

I've just learned that Edwards was taken POW at Norval's Pont and I have now amended my write up accordingly.