JOHN AND PETER EDWARDS, two brave brothers

Peter Edwards was born in Earlestown in June 1887 he was the son of John Edwards of Mold in North Wales (the same village as the father of his cousin John Peters) and Martha Ann Edwards formerly Stokes (sister of Mary Peters. The family moved to Westleigh in Leigh, Lancashire and on the 1901 census Peter is working above the pit as a bunkerman and whilst I have no record for the 1911 though prior to his enlisting in the army he was employed at Pretoria Pit. Peter died at the Battle of Loos on the 25th September 1915 and is named on the Loos Memorial. Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 Name: Peter Edwards S/7914, "B" Coy. 8th Bn., Gordon Highlanders who died age 28 on 25th September 1915 Son of Martha Ann Edwards, of 6, Holt St., Leigh, Lancs, and the late John Edwards John Edwards his brother was born in Leigh, Lancs in 1893 and prior to enlisting in the army was employed as a collier in the mines of Fletcher, Burrows and co. Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 Name: John Edwards Birth Place: Leigh, Lancs Residence: Leigh, Lancs Death Date: 3 Jul 1916 Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Atherton, Lancs Rank: Private Battalion: 1st Battalion Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers Number: 19993 Type of Casualty: Died of wounds Theatre of War: Western European Theatre Cemetery GEZAINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION This is the article that appeared in the local newspaper on the death of John. Thank you both Peter and John for your sacrifice. WE WILL REMEMBER YOU

JOHN PETERS another family hero

John Peters was born in Earlestown in 1893, his parents were John Peters from Mold in North Wales and Mary Peters, formerly Stokes born in Bolton from Bank Street in Earlestown. On the 1911 census John was employed in the colliery as a labourer driftsman at age 17. He died in Mesopotamia from wounds. Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about John Peters Name: John Peters Birth Place: Earlstown, Lancs Residence: Earlstown Death Date: 5 Apr 1916 Death Location: Mesopotamia Enlistment Location: Warrington, Lancs Rank: L/Corporal Age 22 Regiment East Lancashire Battalion 5th Battalion Number: 11414 Type of Casualty: Died of wounds Theatre of War: Asiatic Theatres Thank you John for your sacrifice. WE WILL REMEMBER YOU

One of our family heroes WALTER JOSEPH STOKES

Walter Joseph Stokes was born in Earlestown in 1884 to Joseph Stokes and Elizabeth nee Taft,on the 1901 Census he is a steel bolt maker at the Viaduct Works close to where he lived with his mother and father in Viaduct Street. In 1903 he marries Martha Croxford and they have two children John and Elizabeth. They move to Warrington where Walter works as a furnaceman (according to 1911 census) for Richmond Gas Stove and Meter Co, Warrington. He enlists in Warrington and on his death on the 22.6.1916 in Mesopotamia of cholera, he is an acting bombadier in the royal field artillery. Keen football player he played for Garswood, then Richmond Gas Association team. In Memory of Acting Bombardier W J STOKES 97272, "C" Bty. 56th Bde., Royal Field Artillery who died on 22 June 1916 in Mesopotamia. Remembered with honour BASRA WAR CEMETERY Remembered on the Warrington War Memorial Thank you Walter for your sacrifice. WE WILL REMEMBER YOU