Military History

Edmund is listed as having died of wounds at the Reading War Hospital on 25th August 1917. Edmund's grave in Leamington Spa states that he received his wounds in action at West Hoek Ridge, Belgium.

The war diary contains a Report on Operations for 9th/10th August 1917. Wikipedia carries an article regarding the Capture of Westhoek (aka The Action at Weskhoek Ridge) on 10th August 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres aka Battle of Passchendaele, and we believe that Edmund was wounded during this action. The Report on Operations mentioned above is transcribed below.

11^th BN. ROYAL FUSILIERS

Report on Operations of 9^th/10^th August 1917

Map Reference – Trench Map Zillebeke – Sheets 28 N.W.4 & N.E.3

FORMING UP FOR THE ATTACK.

Tapes were laid in "no mans land" for the troops to form up on. The 11th Royal Fusiliers boundaries were from J.13.b.8.3. on left to J.13.d.9.6 on the right.

ZERO. The kick off at "Zero" was good with touch on left flank. On the right the 7th Queens Regt were late in starting and were 100 yards behind the line of 11th Royal Fusiliers first wave.

The companies were in position in good time.

FORMATION.

"B" and "D" Companies in front in two waves. "Moppers up" behind first wave.
"C" Company in Support along Battalion frontage.
"A" Company in Reserve behind "C" Company.

OBJECTIVES

The two attacking Companies and the support Company reached the Jargon Support Line from J.14.b.0.5. to about J.14.b.3.0. just north of Fitzclarence Farm. The right attacking Company with its supports lost direction to a certain extent and did not occupy about 150 yards of trench on the right of the Battalion frontage.

A party of the 9th Queens Regt moved on the right flank of the 11th Royal Fusiliers and were not seen on the objective. The objective was reached in good order and close behind the barrage, but came under destructive frontal machine gun fire. Time about 5.5 a.m.

The Lewis Gunners of the 11th Royal Fusiliers and the 8th Northamptonshire Regt clearing party came into action here in the attempt to counter the enemy's Machine Guns and snipers.

The position remained the same until about 6 am by which time all the Officers and many of the N.C.O's were casualties. The enemy then developed a well planned counter attack from Inverness Copse supported by strong Machine Gun fire. The attack took the form of bombing up trenches from the Southern flank and also took our right company in rear. The effect was the uncovered flank of the Battalion was rolled up and driven back to the crest line of the strong point in J.14.a. which was consolidated and held until the battalion was relieved by the 8th Norfolk Regt.

The reserve Company in the attack reached its objective on the light railway line running by the farm in J.14.a. This turned out to be a very exposed position on the forward slope and became untenable when the Germans counter attacked from the Copse. This company commander withdrew to the crest line mentioned and reorganised the Battalion until he was killed.

The main cause of the Battalion being unable to remain on its objective was the enemy being in possession of our right flank. This extended for 700 yards and the Germans had that space to manoeuvre in against our flank and rear.

All the Officers and senior N.C.O's becoming casualties just before the critical moment a very dangerous situation remained uncounteracted for want of leaders. There was a remarkable amount of rifle ammunition used in this battle and the Lewis Guns that survived used all their drums before returning.

Major – 11^th Bn Royal Fusiliers