Trade listed as Laborer. DOB 25-12-97, born Ayton, Ontario. 5 foot 7 3/4 inches. Blue eyes, red hair. Presbyterian. NOK James Edwards, father. Enlisted Mount Forest 7-12-15 (age 18 years). On 153rd Nominal Roll 5-2-16, no transfer noted. On 153rd Battalion Nominal Roll as published Guelph Mercury 1-12-16. Embarked with 153rd Halifax N.S. SS Olympic 29-4-17. Arrived Liverpool 7-5-17. Assigned 25th Reserve for Training and Administration. 29-3-18 Taken on Strength 18th Battalion. KIA 8-8-18. Globe & Mail Casualty List 24-8-18 reports “KIA.” Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Reference: n/a. Vimy Memorial inscription photo courtesy S. Godly.
Name inscribed on Arthur Cenotaph.
‘Circumstances of Death’ Register by Library & Archives Canada: “Killed in Action” ‘During an attack on Marceleave, he was instantly killed by enemy shell fire.’ Next of Kin: Mr. W.B. Edwards, Aneroid, Saskatchewan.
File: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2835 – 21, courtesy Library & Archives Canada. Canadian Virtual War Memorial courtesy Veteran Affairs Canada.
Family Search: When Private Donald Thomas Edwards was born on 7 January 1897, in Normanby, Grey, Ontario, Canada, his father, James Edwards, was 37 and his mother, Isabella Jane Hill, was 34. He lived in Grey, Ontario, Canada for about 10 years. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 18, his occupation is listed as labourer. He died on 8 August 1918, in Marcelcave, Somme, Picardie, France, at the age of 21, and was buried in Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 