Edwin Daws

Edwin Daws was the son of Benjamin and Kate Daws (née Turner). His father Benjamin was born in 1856 in Nottingham and his mother Kate Turner in 1854, in Carrington, Nottingham. They were married at Basford St Leodegarius on 30 January 1875 and had at least eight children: Benjamin Samuel b. Carrington 1875 d. 1927 (Loughborough), Ann b. Carrington 1877, William b. Basford 1879 d. 1956 (Loughborough), Kate b. Nottingham 1881, Ada b. Nottingham birth registered 1884 (J/F/M), James Robert b. Nottingham 1886 d. 1948, Edwin b. Nottingham birth registered 1889 (J/F/M) and Arthur b. Nottingham 1891. In 1881 Benjamin, a carpenter, and Kate, a silk lace mender, were living at 46 Gauntley Street, Radford, with their children Benjamin, Ann and William. They had moved to Pleasant Row, Radford, by 1891; only six of their eight children were in the home on the night of the cenus: William (11) a milk seller's assistant, Kate, Ada, James, Edwin and Arthur. Their eldest son, Benjamin Samuel, has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but their eldest daughter Ann was a general domestic servant at 63 North Gate, Basford, in the household of William Jickell, a brass finisher and tobacconist, and his wife Eliza Villetta. Ann was still working for the couple in 1901 and was recorded in the household as a visitor in 1911 by which time the widowed Eliza was listed as a shopkeeper (tobacconist). Benjamin and Kate were living at 2 Randal Street, Hyson Green, by 1901. Also in the household were four of their children, Kate and Ada who were both cigar makers, James an apprentice joiner and Edwin, together with Ada Alice Daws (5) who was Benjamin Samuel's daughter. Benjamin Samuel had married Alice Rick in 1895 and they had two daughters: Alice Ada b. 1896 and Beatrice Annie birth registered 1899 (J/F/M). In 1901 Benjamin was an inmate at the Union Workhouse, Elswick, Northumberland, while his wife Alice, a lace finisher, and her daughter Beatrice were living with a householder in Nottingham as boarders. Benjamin and Alice were still living apart in 1911, he in Loughborough and she in Nottingham; each in a new relationship. Edwin's mother Kate died in 1902. His widowed father was still living at 2 Randal Street in 1911 with Kate a curtain dresser, Ada of no occupation, James a joiner, Edwin a law clerk, Arthur a warehouseman and his granddaughter Ada Alice Daws, a provision merchant's clerk. William, an engine fitter, had married Annie Pykett in 1904 and in 1911 they were living in Loughborough with their daughter. Benjamin snr. died on 10 September 1922; he was still living at 2 Randal Street. The probate record gave his occupation as joiner and undertaker; probate was awarded to his unmarried daughter Ada.

In 1911 he was a law clerk. Prior to enlisting he was assistant to the clerk of Long Eaton Urban District Council.

2 Randal Street, Nottingham

Lieutenant Edwin Daws served with the 16th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment. Attd. 1/4th Battalion. The 16th (2nd City of Edinburgh) Battalion (McCrae’s Battalion) was raised in November 1914 as part of Kitchener’s Third New Army by Sir George McCrae, an Edinburgh businessman. McCrae had served in the City’s Volunteer and later Territorial Force, resigning command of the 6th Battalion The Royal Scots in 1913. However, approval was given for Sir George to command the 16th Battalion which was better known as McCrae’s Battalion. The Battalion moved to France in January 1916 where it served until August 1918 when it was disbanded. The 1/4th Battalion (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) was a Territorial Battalion. It embarked at Liverpool on 24 May 1915 for Gallipoli (14 June) via Egypt. It returned to Egypt in early 1916 after being evacuated from Gallipoli and remained in Egypt until moving to France in April 1918. Edwin landed in Egypt on 1st June 1916 and was attached to the 1/4th Battalion Royal Scots. He was killed in action on 2 November 1917 during the Third Battle of Gaza and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery (Israel and Palestine inc. Gaza), grave reference IX.B.2. CWGC - History of Gaza War Cemetery (extract): 'Gaza was bombarded by French warships in April 1915. At the end of March 1917, it was attacked and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the First Battle of Gaza, but the attack was broken off when Turkish reinforcements appeared. The Second Battle of Gaza, 17-19 April, left the Turkish forces in possession and the Third Battle of Gaza, begun on 27 October, ended with the capture of the ruined and deserted city on 7 November 1917. Casualty Clearing Stations arrived later that month and General and Stationary hospitals in 1918. Some of the earliest burials were made by the troops that captured the city. About two-thirds of the total were brought into the cemetery from the battlefields after the Armistice. The remainder were made by medical units after the Third Battle of Gaza, or, in some cases, represent reburials from the battlefields by the troops who captured the city. Of the British Soldiers, the great majority belong to the 52nd (Lowland), the 53rd (Welsh), the 54th (East Anglian) and the 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Until the day break' Probate: Daws Edwin of 2 Randal-street Hyson Green Nottingham lieutenant in HM Army died 2 November 1917 at Gaza Palestine Administration Nottingham 7 May to Benjamin Daws joiner and undertaker. Effects of £193 14s. 2d. Nottingham Evening Post, 16 November 1917: ‘The Roll of Honour. 144 Officers and 6,090 Rank and File … Killed. Lieut Edwin Dawes (sic). Lieut. Edwin Dawes, Royal Scots, was killed in action on or about November 2nd. The officer, whose parents reside at Randall-street, Hyson Green, was 27 years of age. He joined the Nottingham OTC in August, 1915, and soon obtained a commission. Prior to enlisting, Lieut. Dawes was assistant to Mr E Williams, clerk to the Long Eaton Urban District Council.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Notttingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 20 November 1917. ‘Daws. Killed in action, November 2nd, 1917, Lieutenant Edwin Daws, the Royal Scots. Too far away thy grave to see, but not too far to think of thee. From brother Jim and Sally.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 2 November 1918: ‘Daws. In proud and loving memory of Lieut. Edwin Daws (Ted) who was killed in action at Gaza, Palestine, on November 2nd, 1917. Father and family.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 3 November 1919: ‘Daws. In affectionate and loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Lieut. E Daws, killed in action November 2nd, 1917. From Mr and Mrs W Daws and family.’ Nottingham Evening Post, 2 November 1920: ‘In Memoriam’ notices from father and family, brother Jim and Sally, and May.