LCpl Wayne Edwards RWF - 13th January 1993

LCpl Wayne Edwards RWF
(Attached to 1 Cheshire)

[img2=left]http://rwf-forum.co.uk//vBulletin/images/misc/poppy.jpg[/img2]LCpl Wayne Edwards was killed by crossfire between warring factions in Bosnia on Wednesday 13th January 1993. He was attached to 1 Cheshire as part of UNPROFOR. At the time of the incident he was the driver of the lead Warrior vehicle escorting an aid convoy through the town of Gornji Vakuf, where heavy fighting was taking place between Muslim and Croat forces. He was struck by a single round to the head and died at the scene of his injuries. He was the first British soldier to be killed in Bosnia.

Wayne was 26 years old, single and from Cefn Mawr Wrexham. He joined the 1st Battalion in 1986; he was a member of Delta Company. He had already completed a residential tour of Northern Ireland and later was part of the Battalion when the Berlin Wall fell. He had also served with the Staffordshire Regiment as a warrior driver, hence his attachment to the Cheshire Regiment.

It was noted in Y Ddraig Goch 1993, that “He was a very reliable and mature professional soldier. He was well liked by all members of the Battalion. His loss will be keenly felt throughout the regiment.”

His funeral, which took place in Wrexham, was possibly one of the largest in the town for many years, and it confirmed the respect and admiration that the town had for Wayne and his family, and the sorrow felt at his untimely death.

A memorial stone in Gornji Vakuf marks the spot where he was killed. In 1995 his old rifle company “Deltas” held a memorial service for Wayne at the stone. Since then, numerous groups of Royal Welchmen have made the journey to pay their respects to a sadly missed comrade.

After reading about the soldiers that were killed in Ireland it made me think of Wayne. It was a tragic time for his family which was felt throughout the village of Cefn Mawr. There was a dove cote built in his memory, which is situated at Ty Mawr Country Park. He will never be forgotten by the people of Cefn, his death affected us all.

I came to the Bn with Wayne from Lichfield and we were close friends. He was a really good bloke, and highly regarded by everyone in D Coy. It was a shame I could not make it to the funeral.
Sorry Mate..

The last time I worked with Wayne was with the 4th RWF Cadet Bn at a summer battle camp in Swynnerton, Staffordshire in the early 90s.

I went into the mess and there he was sitting by the bar. With the help of the RSM, I got Wayne assigned to help my Company out, and what followed was one of the funniest 2 week cadet camps I attended.

On one event we went on, we went to Leek for adventure training, and me with a bad right leg that would not bend, was just asking for trouble.
The OC of the Company had organized a days pony trekking, I can't ride, as I could not grip the horse with my legs. Meanwhile Wayne had bribed the stablemaid to give me the biggest headstrong horse they had, telling the girl I was a really good rider, and that me and him used to patrol on them in the Falklands!!

Well all day that bloody horse galloped everywhere, and when we got back to camp that night i walked like I had a cannon ball in my shorts, and Wayne nearly ****** himself laughing and kept taking the Micky all night.

That was the last time I saw Wayne before he was killed. I went to his funeral to pay my last respect to him, he was a good friend to me and all the boys who knew him well, I will not forget him.

Val

I visited Ty Mawr, country park yesterday where there is a dove cote built in memory of Wayne, it is in very good condition and a credit to the rangers who look after the park.

I live opposite the country park & Waynes mum lives just further up the road. I was at the cenotaph last sunday, I believe I was the only Royal Welch guy there, there was however an ex Cheshire who was in Waynes patrol, this guy also spent sometime with the Royal Welch in the late 80's I think, with him was a guy from the RRF who'd come down to keep him company.

I explained where the Dovecote was & also his grave. We then had a chat with his mum. The British Legion are planning a trip down to the Staffordshire Memorial in the new year.

Richie,

Im sure you are aware that Wayne's mother has had a really tough time. Having never got over the loss of Wayne, his sister Bridgette passed away very unexpectedly last year. She was a great girl, who ran 'The Queens' pub in Cefn Mawr, always life and soul of the party. I am mates with their step brother Gareth in Llangollen, and get to see Barbara and Johnny when I can. Obviously when I laid a wreath last week, I did so with Wayne very much in mind.

What a great lad and a good mate

For the lads who remember Eds, they will tell you a few stories, i had the privilege of knowing Wayne and his family as living close by in Plas Madoc. I was also extremely proud but very sad to carry Wayne's coffin at the funeral, with some great mates, and how we all held it together i will never know, sure he would of been proud boys.

A very sad occasion, but a great booze up, as he liked, I remember the night before the funeral in Cefn Mawr British Legion. I always stop at his grave when I'm home, unfortunately it looked like it needed a bit of attention when I last went.



RIP Mate. Never forgotten

I'll nip up & take a look at the grave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob 33

What a great lad and a good mate

For the lads who remember Eds, they will tell you a few stories, i had the privilege of knowing Wayne and his family as living close by in Plas Madoc. I was also extremely proud but very sad to carry Wayne's coffin at the funeral, with some great mates, and how we all held it together i will never know, sure he would of been proud boys.

A very sad occasion, but a great booze up, as he liked, I remember the night before the funeral in Cefn Mawr British Legion. I always stop at his grave when I'm home, unfortunately it looked like it needed a bit of attention when I last went.

RIP Mate. Never forgotten

---

What more can be said. I was also at Eds funeral as part of the
funeral party from D Coy. I was in Australia on Remembrance Day
and went to the Cenotaph in Kings Park Perth. I wore my hackle and beret
with pride, and laid a wreath in memory of all the fallen heroes in all
conflicts. But i did say a special prayer for eds.

R.I.P Eds you will never be forgotten