Edwards | William Frederick Savery | | Lieutenant | EDWARDS, WILLIAM FREDERICK SAVERY, Lieutenant, was born on 27 July 1872, at East Budleigh, son of Reverend N W Edwards, of Dowland Vicarage, North Devon, and of Martha Ellen Allan. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, and was gazetted to the 4th Battalion Devon Regiment in January 1897. He was employed with the Sierra Leone Frontier Police from 1899 to 1901, serving with the Ashanti Field Force in 1900. He was slightly wounded; was twice mentioned in Despatches; received the Medal with clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 15 January 1901]: "William Frederick Savery Edwards, Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. In recognition of services during the recent operations in Ashanti". The Insignia were presented by Colonel C Ridley. The DSO was awarded for the taking of Kumassi, for commanding the advance forward of the Relief Column. Lieutenant Edwards was then seriously wounded. He retired from the Army on 17 July 1901, and joined the Reserve of Officers; was employed with the South African Constabulary from 1901 until 1906, serving with them in the South African War in 1902. He was present in the operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony in 1902 (Queen's Medal with two clasps). Captain Edwards was appointed Inspector-General of Police in Uganda, 1906, and Inspector-General of Police of the East Africa and Uganda Protectorates, 1908. He received the Police Medal in 1911, for services in connection with the organization of the Police and Prisons Departments of the East Africa and Uganda Protectorates, and for services rendered while in command of the Police Punitive Force against Wamiro in 1907. On the outbreak of war, Captain Edwards was on leave, returning to East Africa on the 8th August 1914. He served with the East African Expeditionary Force from 1914 until 1918, being Inspector-General of Communications, 1915-17, with rank of Brigadier General, and a Brigade Commander, 1917-18. He was mentioned in Despatches five times, being awarded the Brevet of Major, CMG, CB and 2nd Class Order of St Anne (with swords), while he received the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals. He took the surrender of General Von Lettow Vorbeck and the German Forces at Aberconn, in Northern Rhodesia, on the 25th November 1918. Commanded Turkana Expedition, East Africa, 1915 (mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel and the African General Service Medal with clasp). Granted honorary rank of Brigadier General, 1919. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, Reserve of Officers, November 1919. He was an FRGS. He married on 8 August 1902, at St Minver, Cornwall, Evelyn G M Bingham, daughter of Major Denis Bingham, 6Oth King's Royal Rifle Corps, and they had a daughter, Eleanor Bingham, and a son, Denis Savery Bingham, born on 5 June 1905, and died 6 December 1905. His favourite recreations were polo, shooting and cricket.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Devonshire Regiment |