Edwin's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Isaac Edwin Unwin, known as Edwin, was born on 19 September and baptised on 19 October 1878 at St Alban's R.C. Church, Macclesfield, the son of Harriet (nee Brooks) and Michael Isaac Unwin, a mechanic of Macclesfield.
In 1881, two-year-old Edwin was living at 48 Cross Street, Macclesfield, with his mother and siblings Peter (16), Theresa (11), Samuel (9) and James (7); his father was not at home on census day. Two older siblings, Mary Anne, who was married to John Sullivan, and Richard, a joiner, were living at 8 Fountain Street, Macclesfield, the home of John and Mary Anne.
Unfortunately Edwin's father died in December 1884, and in 1891 the family was living at 85 Pierce Street, Macclesfield.
Edwin's mother died in 1894 and the family split up. In 1901, Peter was married and living in Prestbury Road, Macclesfield; Theresa had married Joseph Woolley and was living in Preston; Samuel was living at Alderley Edge, working as a watchmaker and jeweller; James was married, living at Philip's Park Road, Manchester and working as an engine driver at a cotton mill; and Edwin was living at Cranford Avenue, Knutsford, and working as a hairdresser. By 1911 Edwin had moved to 61 Shaw Heath, Stockport, and had his own hairdressing business.
MILITARY SERVICE
Edwin attested at Stockport on 29 February 1916 and was called up in August 1916, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery with service number 112781. Edwin stated that his next of kin was his brother, Richard Unwin of 49 Roe Street, Macclesfield, but this was later crossed out and replaced by Samuel Unwin, jeweller, of London Road, Alderley Edge, after Richard died in 1917.
After training, Edwin was drafted overseas to India in October 1916 and on 24 October 1918 he joined the 82nd Company of the RGA, which was based at Ferozepore, Punjab, India. Unfortunately Edwin died of pneumonia just over one week later, on 2 November 1918.
As India was not a theatre of war during WWI, Edwin qualified only for the British War Medal and not the Victory Medal.
COMMEMORATION
Gunner Edwin Unwin is buried in Grave Ref. 9. A. 8. of the Delhi War Cemetery, India. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Gunner Edwin Unwin.
Locally, Gunner Edwin Unwin is commemorated on the Park Green war memorial, and he is remembered on a family headstone in Macclesfield Cemetery, plot J.8973:
Pray for the soul of Michael Isaac Unwin
who died Dec 10th 1884 aged 50 years
Also Harriet his wife
who died Oct 12th 1894 aged 59 years
Also Gunner Isaac Edwin Unwin R.G.A.
youngest son of the above
who died at Delhi, Nov 2nd 1918 aged 40 years
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
Family History Society of Cheshire Catholics in Macclesfield data
England & Wales Census: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911
WWI Medal Rolls Index Card (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
WWI British Army Service Records 1914-1920
The Long, Long Trail website
WWI Absent Voters Lists (FindMyPast)
Family History Society of Cheshire Macclesfield Cemetery Memorial Inscriptions
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.