208104 Pte. Abraham "Louis" Edgar MM.British Army 11th Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers from:Newcastle My father Abraham Edgar, joined the Durham Light Infantry in 1914 but was discharged when it was discovered he was just 16. As soon as he was 18 he re-enlisted, this time in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. I would imagine he went to France in 1917 but am confused as to whereabouts he went.
He spoke little of his experiences - he was a very emotional and traumatised man. However, we were told by him that on one occasion he was going to be shot at dawn for disobeying an order to go through the wire to rescue men on the other side. He had been through the wire many times on that particular day and was dog tired. He was told that because of this refusal he would be shot the next day. He was too tired to care. However, after some time he was woken up and asked, again, if he would go through the wire. This time he agreed to go and was able to rescue several men including an injured officer.
He was awarded a Military Medal for this action and the officer he rescued was awarded a Military Cross. (I think that's what he said it was). The date of Gazette is not known but is marked No.59. The registered paper is 68/121/772 Schedule No. 214199.
He married in the late 20s and moved to the South Coast. In the late 1970s he went with my mother to visit my sister in Leeds who drove them to the area they had come from (Newcastle area) where we were all amused by a photo they took of my father pointing to his own name on a War Memorial for those killed in action. He lived to 80 years of age.
I would love to know where he won his medal and more about the officer involved, who incidentally gave him a silver Omega pocket watch as a memento. This, and my father's medals are now owned by my eldest son.
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