Harry Edwards - Athlete
Harry Edwards was born on the 15th April 1898 in Berlin, Germany. His father was Dominican and his mother was German.
During the First World War Edwards was imprisoned at the Ruhleben civilian camp as an ‘enemy alien’ between 1915 and 1918, because Dominica was considered a British territory and Edwards dad was considered British, so her was too. When released, Edwards travelled to Britain and initially taught German and French in London and joined the athletics team Polytechnic Harriers as a sprinter.
Edwards represented Britain at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. He was the first Black athlete to win medals for Great Britain, he won bronze in the 100m and 200m. Considering the ordeal he'd
gone through Edwards was remarkably resilient. Outside of the Olympics he won the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) Championships in 100, 220, and 440 yards from 1920 to 1922. Edwards received praise and congratulations, after these victories from King George V.
Harry Edwards passed away on the 8th July 1973.