| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 30/4/1916. Formerly Gnr. 8 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. No. 32759. Pre 1920 MFP No. 1751. He has earlier MFP No. P/18459 on medal card. Died 30/8/1927 self inflicted gun shot wounds at Belfast. London Gazette 33388, page 3736, dated 29/5/28, List 613 of the next of deceased Officers, Soldiers and Airmen whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitles. Effects 1927, Edwards, J R Cpl, MFP. £10/1/10. Army Roll of Soldiers' Effects, Widow Sarah Jane Edwards received the sum of £16/1/10, 1/29. John Richard Edwards.
Extract from the Western Mail 31 August 1927.
SOUTH WALES SOLDIER FOUND SHOT IN BELFAST BARRACKS.
Corporal Joh Edwards, of the Military Foot Police, described as belonging to South Wales was found shot dead in his quarters at Victoria Barracks, Belfast, on Tuesday. A revolver lay beside him. he was 45 years of age and had longs service. There was no apparent reason for the suicide.
Extract from the Belfast News Letter, 1/9/1927, VICTORIA BARRACKS TRAGEDY, Soldier Prefers Death to Discharge From Army.
Dr James Graham, Belfast City Coroner, held a inquest yesterday concerning the death of Corporal John Edwards, aged 45 years, who was found shot in his bunk in Victoria Barracks on Tuesday. There was a bullet wound in his head, and a revolver was lying close to the body. Edwards was a native of Rhonda Valley, Wales. Sergeant O'Toole who is in charge of the Military Foot Police to which the deceased belonged, said Corporal Edwards had had 26 years' service. He was due to leave the Army on 31 st March, but did not want to, as he thought he would not be able to find civil employment. Edwards, who served in the Garrison Artillery during the war, often remarked, jokingly, to witness, that he was going into the cold world from the Army. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind. |
