Charles Thomas Prince Edwards was born on 24 May 1897, one of the five children of Charles Henry Edwards (b.1874) and Fanny Elizabeth Edwards née Edwards (b.1874). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1897 in the St Olave Southwark registration district, London. On 15 August 1897 he was baptised at St Katherine's Church, Rotherhithe, London, where the baptismal register shows the family was living at 54 New Road, Rotherhithe and that his father was a labourer.
In the 1901 census he was shown as aged 3 years, living in 3 rooms at 204 Trundley Road, Deptford, London, with his parents and his sister, Una Frances Edwards (1899-1904). His father was described as an engineer's labourer.
When his father completed his 1911 census return form, he was shown as a schoolboy living in five rooms at 52 Kerry Road, New Cross, London, with his parents and two siblings: Violet Jessie Edwards (1902-1996) and John James Edwards (1904-1991). His father described himself as a lamp attendant employed by the South Metropolitan Gas Company and that his wife had given birth to five children of which only three were still alive.
He married Margaret Amy Spillane in the 1st quarter of 1919 in the Greenwich registration district, London and they had three children: Eileen Una Edwards (1919-1997); Kathleen Frances Edwards (b.1921) and Charles R. Edwards (b.1926). When their eldest child was baptised on 26 October 1919 at St Paul's Church, Deptford, the baptismal register showed the family address remained as 52 Kerry Road, New Cross and that his occupation was recorded as a fitter.
Electoral registers until 1933 show him and his wife continuing to live at 52 Kerry Road, Deptford with his parents, although his mother had started to be known as Frances Elizabeth Edwards. Electoral registers from 1935 show him and his wife listed at 9 Grinstead Road, Deptford.
The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him as a skilled labourer, living at 9 Grinstead Road, Deptford, with his wife, who was listed as a skin dresser and their three children. Eileen Una Edwards was also a skin dresser, Kathleen Frances Edwards was a waitress and Charles R. Edwards was shown as at school.
He died, aged 43 years, on 19 March 1943 at 9 Grinstead Road, Deptford, as a result of enemy action and according to the Find a Grave website he is buried in Brockley. He is shown as Edwards C on the Royal Victoria Yard war memorial that is located at The Colonnade, Grove Street, London, SE8 and as Edwards, Charles Thomas Prince on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Lewisham War Memorials website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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