John Hart Edwards

Story:
John Hart Edwards was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1898, the son of William James Edwards (Grocer and Shopkeeper) and Abigail Mary Edwards (née Hart). He lived most of his life apart from Military Service in Fontmell Magna.  He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from 1910 to 1915. He did well academically, passing the Cambridge Senior Local Examinations with Honours in July 1914, and being awarded the VI Form Prize in 1915. In March 1915 he also passed the Competitive Examination for Clerk to Surveyor of Taxes and when he left school became a clerk with the Inland Revenue. He enlisted with the 15th Reserve Battalion of the London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles) as a Private (Service No. 537505).  There is no other information regarding his service.  John's father died in 1919.  Following John's discharge he was working in Blagdon, Somerset, where he was described as a Civil Servant.  He regrettably died in Blagdon at the young age of 23 years on 20th April 1922 and was buried at Fontmell Magna on 24th April 1922.

Printed source:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1915.