Military History

Edward is listed as being killed in action between 14 Nov and 16th Novemeber 1916 and was buried at Redan Ridge near Beaumont Hamel. The 11th Battalion War Diary entries for the 12th to the 16th November 1916 (inclu) are transcribed, in full, below.

Doullens 12-XI-16: Battalion marched into billets at Louvencourt

Louvencourt 13-XI-16 - 3pm: Battalion moved off with an hours notice to Bertrencourt & after two hours in hutment it proceeded to Mailly-Maillet in billets for two hours.

Mailly-Maillet 14-XI-16 - 3am: The battalion moved forward in "battle order" to White City where it arrived at 6am & stood to in communication trench until 1pm awaiting further orders. At 1pm Battalion, under orders of 99th Brigade to which it was attached, moved forward to attack Frankfort Trench to pass over Munich Trench which was erroneously reported to be in British hands & now held by 2nd K.R.R.C.

The attack was held up by hostile M/G fire from Munich Trench. The Battn retired to Minden Trench, in which it established its Headquarters. During this operation R.S.M Shear was killed, also 2nd Lt C.W. Lush. END

Minden Trench 15-XI-16 - 8.30am: Orders received from the 99th Bde that Munich Trench would be attacked at 9am. The attack to be carried out by the 8th East Lancs & 10th L.N. Lancs Regts, supported by the 11th R. War. R. Munich trench was found to be very strongly held, the attack was held up. Under cover of dark the Battn reorganised in Leave Trench and Wagon Road with Bn HQ in Beaucourt Trench. Capt. J.S. Thain MC wounded.

Beaucourt Trench 16-XI-16: Bn held on in Wagon Road. During the afternoon a heavy hostile barrage was experienced. 2nd Lt W.R. Wolton wounded.

Beaucourt Trench 17-XI-16 - 1am: The Battn was relieved and moved into billets in Mailly-Maillet. At 2.10pm the Battn marched into Billets at Englebelmer.