Military History

Edward is listed as being killed in action on 11 Apr 1917. The 1st/1st Yeomanry war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

April 11^th 1917 – In the Field - Monchy-le-Preux: The orders were to proceed at dawn to the dead ground W of Orange Hill, to follow up the attack of the 37^th Division on Monchy & then seize and hold the line Boiry Notre Dame to the River Scarpe at I.22 central. The 3^rd Cavl Division had also orders to go through in front of the Regt.

At 7.30am Monchy was taken by the Infantry, the 8^th Cav Brigade advanced through heavy artillery barrage followed by this Regiment. On arriving in Monchy it was found the 8^th Cav Bde had been unable to get on owing to Machine Gun fire. A Squadron under Major Manning went into action dismounted at SE end of the village on road to Pelves but the other 2 Squadrons got blocked by the led horses of the 8^th Cav Bde.

As the village was under shell fire B & C Squadrons were given orders to retire which they did to Orange Hill & shortly afterwards A Squadron were given similar orders as it was found that they were not required in the defence of the village. Lt. Col Seymour was slightly wounded and Major Sir G.B. Lowther assumed command. As the enemy had brought up its reserves and there was then no chance of getting on, the Regt was ordered to bivouac for the night at Railway Triangle & next day to return to billets.

Casualties this day were Killed 2/Lt J Goodman & 2/Lt E.V. Humphriss. The diary then names all the casualties, both officers and other ranks. Due to time constraints we have not listed them. The war diary can be ordered from the National Archives under reference WO-95-792-2.