Edward was born on 9th July 1899 in Wymondham, Norfolk to parents Walter and Emma, the youngest of 3 children recorded on the 1901 census. Edward was aged just one then and the family lived in Folly Road, Wymondham.
On the 1911 census he was 11 years old and attended school. He and his family had moved to Mill House, Bracon Ash, Norfolk; one sibling had died, one had left home and he had gained two younger brothers since the previous census.
He worked as a page prior to joining the Navy and began his training at HMS Ganges as a Boy 2nd Class on 21st April 1915.
He was 5 feet tall with auburn hair and hazel eyes. He was posted to HMS Jupiter as a Boy 1st Class on 12th August 1915, then attended further training at Pembroke l on 23rd December 1916.
Edward was posted to HMS Vanguard on 26th February 1917 and when turning 18, he rose in rank to Ordinary Seaman. Tragically he shared his birth date with the date of the explosion, and died on his 18th birthday.
He was awarded the Star, Victory and British medals and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial and locally on the memorial in Bracon Ash village.
(#126 - 126/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 FreeBMD
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 727
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 007 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0568
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; Pension Record Cards; Reference: 032/0134/BUN-BUN
IMAGE COURTESY OF NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 97