Military History

Edward is listed as being killed in action on 9th May 1915. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 8th to 10th May are transcribed below.

Hingette - 08 May 1915: CO went to Bde HQ for conference. Battalion marches from billets at 6.45pm passes Loconat at 8pm and arrives at Windy Corner at about 10pm. From there the Coys go up to the 3^rd & 4^th lines of breastworks in the W side of Rue Dubois. C & D Coys in 3^rd line, C on right, A & B Coys in 4^th line, A Coy on right.

The battalion was in Brigade reserve with Glosters. Welch & Munsters were assaulting Battalions with 2 Coys each in the first line & 2 Coys each in the first line and 2 Coys in 2^nd line, we covered off the Welch in 3^rd & 4^th lines. Teas were issued at night and tools, bombs etc issued.

Rue du Bois – 09 May 1915: At 5am artillery bombardment commenced. At 5.40am assaulting Battns assaulted the German trench. They failed to get into the first German trench owing to a ditch which had not been properly bridged, hostile rifle and M.G. fire. These Battalions lost very heavily. As soon as the assaulting Battalions got out of the first trench the Battn at once advanced from the 3^rd & 4^th lines to take over the 1^st & 2^nd lines, 2 Lts Pollock & French were killed during this advance.

The 1^st line was then found to be crowded and B & C Coys moved into 2^nd line and A&D into 3^rd line. Camerons & Scots Guards of 1^st Brigade were then sent to take over the 1^st & 2^nd lines. The Battalion then formed up in the 3^rd line.

At 11.30am we received orders to take over the 1^st & 2^nd line with the Glosters and assault at 2.50pm after a bombardment of 40 minutes. This was then carried out, A & B in the 1^st line and C&D in the 2^nd. The assault was put off till 4pm after bombardment starting at 3.50pm. The assault was again a failure due to the same reasons.

During the assault we lost Capt De Fry?; Lt Turner; Lt Woodward; 2^nd Lts Botfield, Langlands, Jackson all killed & 2 Lt Masters wounded.

We then held the first line until 7pm when K.R.R’s of 6^th Brigade came up to relieve us. The Battalion then marched back by Le Touret to Hingette by Coys & was not all in billets till 5am.

Casualties: 9 officers and 224 other ranks.

Hingette - 10 May 1915: Resting in billets during the day. At 6pm we received orders to move out [of] billets at once & go to billets by Les Choques & HQ at Avelette Bridge. Battalion now in new billets till 9.30pm.