Private (Joseph) Thomas Edwards of Uppingham was a professional soldier who joined the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in February 1903 and became one of the first Rutland casualties of the First World War. Joseph was the son of James and Mary Edwards of Vine Cottage, Adderley Street, Uppingham and was born in March 1882. He married Fanny Elizabeth Bettridge in 1912 and the couple had a daughter, Miriam, born in 1913. Joseph's battalion was serving in India when the war began. It was immediately recalled and arrived in time to take part in the latter stages of the Retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Aisne, and the fighting at Armentieres. Joseph was killed by a shell on 25 October 1914 in the first Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave and so is rememembered on Panel 4 of the Ploegsteert Memorial and also on Uppingham's war memorial. After the war his widow was recorded as living in Market Harborough.