EDWARDS, Clarence Verne, was born 27 August 1894 to his parents, Isaac Calvin Edwards (1856-1940) and Ona Lova “Bade” MEREDITH EDWARDS (1866 – 1942) on the Bartley Farm on Buffalo River, Wayne County, Tennessee.

He was a brother to Almos Clyde EDWARDS whose biography appears above. Clarence’s brothers, Clyde and Harvel, volunteered on 5 July 1917. On month later, Clarence decided to volunteer. He enlisted at Nashville, TN and was sent to Ft. Ogelthorpe, Georgia to be sworn in. He was assigned as Wagoner, HQ Co., 55th Reg. U.S. Inf, 7th Div.

Clarence kept gettting letters from the Draft Board and he thought since he was already in the Army, there was no use to answer the letters. Finally, a Federal Officer was sent down to see Clarence. It was almost Christmas before everything was settled.

The 55th Infantry went along with the rest of the 7th Division to Texas and stayed at a camp near Ft. Worth, TX until the Division was sent overseas. There they went straight to St. Mihiel after the Germans had been driven back. (Clyde was in Texas when Clarence arrived.)

General PERSHING, after carefully concealing his preparations for the Americans, ordered an attack on both sides of the deep Saint Miciel Salient near the base. This was the first all American action., which took place October 12, 1918. Americans suffered 7,000 casualities, but took 16,000 prisoners and 443 guns. This salient, existing since 1914, was destroyed.

Clarence and his division kept the Germans in a holding position until Armistice was signed 11 Nov. The German government realized all was lost and asked for an armistice. Pershing thought it should have been an unconditional surrender.

The Division went to the Alsace-Lorraine region and Luxemburg after the Armistice.

Though Belgian neutrality was guaranteed by the Treaty of 1839, Germany, at the outbreak of WWI, invaded the country in order to strike at France. Large areas were devasted, tribute levied and civilians executed and transported by the military authorities. The Armistice provided for reparations to be paid by Germany. Clarence and his division stayed here for some time.

In the early part of 1919, his division began to move back into France. Leaving Belgium and reaching the French border, an America Mikado type locomotive met them and transported them to Brent. The train was manned by an American crew.

Clarence sailed home in the summer of 1919. He was discharged 28 June 1919 at Atlanta, Georgia immediately after he arrived in the US.

After returning home he farmed with his father, and then for two years with his brother Herschel at Topsy. Later he went to Las Vegas, Nevada where he was employed by Southern Railroad Company for many years. He was a member of the noted Southern Pacific Baseball League.

After leaving Las Vegas for Wayne County, he engaged in farming until a few years before he died. During the Gordon BROWNING administration, Clarence served as Seargent-at-Arms in the Tennessee Legislature. He was a member of the Waynesboro Masonic Lodge No. 127.

Clarence EDWARDS died at the age of 86, 13 Feb 1981 at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. Funeral services were conducted 16 Feb from Middle Tennessee Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Herman BUCHANAN officiating. Burial was in Waynesboro Memorial Gardens, Waynesboro, Tennessee.

Clarence EDWARDS’ Letters From The Front

[letter 1]

On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force
April 1, 1919 HQ Co. 55th inf.

Dear Mother,

Will drop you a few lines today and let you know I am getting along fine and hope this will find you the same. We are about ready to move from this place now and hope we will be moving in the direction of home It looks now that we may be going home before a great while by fall anyway.

saw Clyde a few days back [page 2] he is getting along fine but haven’t heard from Harvel in several days got a letter from Rudolph S a few days ago he is expecting to sail for the States in a few days looks like every body is going back but the 7th division well guess Papa and Lovic have begun farming by now has Herschel brought my pony home yet said he was going to bring her home and put her on the pasture how many head of cattle has Papa [page 3] got this spring

say Mamma where is the Marshall girls at now I haven’t heard from Kate since I left Texas I got to letters and never did ans. so I have lost trace of them may be she has got married by now guess several of the young folks on Buffalo has got married since I left haven’t they? well as I can think of nothing to write will close from your son Clarence V. EDWARDS

[letter 2]

On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force
April 16, 1919 HQ Co. 55 Inf.

Dear Bro

will write you a few lines today as it is raining and have nothing to do all it does here is rain it has been raining for a week and looks now it will rain for another week well Lovic we have got moved and we are in a devil of a town[?] looks now we are going to Germany to (sweet) and hope we do if we cant come hom for I dont like France we thought a while we would soon be leaving for the USA but things look different now [page 2] say Lovic did you ever hear anything from Flake KEATON I never heard anything from him after the war was over dont know what become of him Cecil is still near Harvel

Say Lovic when you write again send me a lot of pictures as news is scarce will close so ans: soon and tell all the news your Bro: Clarence Edwards HQ Co., 55th Inf. 7th Div. 13 Brigade, AEF France

[letter 3]

Sep 25 1919
Some where in France

Dear Mother

Will write you a few lines to let you know I am well and having a very good time though I am very busy.

Well I havent saw Clyde since we arrived I got a card from Harvel it was wrote in July dont know where he is well I guess most every body around home is in the army by now well I just recd; your letter yesterday that was wrote inJuly I was surprised to here that Addie was married that beats the band doesn’t it

Tell Lovic and Pauline to write I haven’t had but to letters since I have been in France.

Well tell Papa to keep that horse for I will be back some day ans: soon Clarence

“O.K. censored by Capt. H. G. Hawkins of N.E. 55th ind.”

Address to HQ Co. 55 Inf America Expeditionary Force via NY