Military History

London Gazette 16 Sep 1918
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty: When the commander of the company had been killed, this officer took command. Under very heavy fire he showed himself regardless of personal safety, visiting his sections, some of which were almost surrounded. It was largely owing to his exertions that six successive attacks by the enemy on our positions were annihilated by our fire. The skill with which he handled his company, his courage and his initiative were admirable.”

Edward is listed as bring killed in action on 9 Apr 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. The following is taken from the War Diary:

Report [partial] on Operations 9th to 14th April

... during the morning [of the 9th] the two remaining sections of the reserve company moved with all the details of the battalion a total of some 200 men to the Rue Des Bruges. On their way however they were heavily shelled and their limbers were hit, the animals killed and several guns destroyed. Nevertheless they came into action about 3:00 PM against the enemy and fighting as infantry they succeeded in greatly delaying his advance, counterattacking him twice successfully until finally linking up with the infantry, they were withdrawn to the north bank of the River Lys.

About 2.30pm A limber corporal we thought it to battalion headquarters that two limbers were near Bac St. Maur, The animals killed and the limbers partially destroyed by shellfire, Lt J G Duncan with a small party of employed men at Headquarters very gallantly succeeded in extricating 5 guns which he brought into action to cover the Bac St. Maur bridgehead, where he was joined by captain E.G. Herbert and Major D.J. Amery-Parkes M.G.C, who had been ordered by the G.O.C 119th Brigade to take command of the troops defending the bridgehead.

The general situation about 5pm therefore was that 11 guns we're covering the bridgeheads across the Lys while 14 machine guns were in action on the line held by the left Brigade running along Shaftesbury Avenue northwards towards Fort Rompu. The remaining guns either having been destroyed or being still in action they're completely surrounded by the enemy.

On the right the bridgeheads were successfully held throughout the night but on the left the enemy about 5.30pm – 6pm succeeded in crossing the river about square H.13 and establishing himself in a farm near the Factory in H.13.a. As a result our line on the left was forced back about dusk behind Croix du Bac. Brigade of the 25th division then relieved our troops on this frank who concentrated at Le Petit Mortier. END of 9^th April. Click for the Full Report [PDF]