Clifton RFC History - WW1 - Philip Arthur Edwards

He was born on the 22nd June 1888 Henbury, Bristol. He was the third son of Herbert George and Eleanora Edwards of Oakfield, Stoke Bishop.

He was educated at Clifton College from September 1899-1906 and was in the same year as Clifton RFC player Disney Fayle, whose brother Barcroft is listed on the Clifton RFC Memorial. He joined Clifton RFC in 1906-07

He went to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. North Lancashire Regiment on the 19th September 1908, promoted Lieut. on the 1st April 1911 and Captain on the 3rd February 1915. He joined the 1st Battalion of his regiment in Mauritius in 1908 and served with them in Poona and Bangalore. He was home on leave when war broke out in August 1914 and was subsequently sent to Salisbury Plain to train one of the battalions. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 16th July 1915 when he rejoined his old battalion.

Above the Victory Medal won by Philip Arthur Edwards.

He was shot dead by a German sniper in the trench known as the North Arm of the Double Crassier, Near Loos on the 18th March 1916 aged 28.

He was also a member of Clifton Rowing Club along with 7 other Clifton Rugby players who lost their life in World War 1, Down, Durrant, Fry, Gardiner, Haycroft, Rowe and Rudman. Clifton Rowing Club is now known as Avon County Rowing Club.

He is buried at Merocq Soldier's Cemetery.

His father Herbert (1872-73) and brother George (1901-02) also played for Clifton.