Edward was born on the 27th August 1897 in the Limehouse area of London, his birth registered in Stepney and baptised at St Luke’s on 6th September. He and his parents Joseph Charles and Alice Maud (Middleton) and 3 older siblings lived at 43 Eastfield Street, Joseph working as a whalebone cutter.
On the 1901 census Edward was aged 3, the family had moved to 22 Richard Street in the parish of St George’s in the East, Stepney; Edward had an older brother Charles Joseph and two older sisters, Martha and Maud. His youngest sister Catherine was born later in the same year.
On the 1911 census Edward and his eldest sister Maud were recorded as visitors to 187 Halley Road, Forest Gate East in East Ham. He worked as a barber’s assistant and was aged 14.
Two years later Edward joined the Navy, attached to HMS IMPREGNABLE for training from 17th January 1913 until 26th August 1913 as a Boy 2nd Class and rising to Boy 1st Class on his departure date. He joined HMS ROYAL ARTHUR the following day until 18th November 1913, his next posting to HMS PEMBROKE I until 8th January 1914. He embarked on his last posting, HMS VANGUARD, on 9th January 1914, rising to Ordinary Seaman on 27th August 1915 and Able Seaman on 1st June 1916. That date was probably momentous for him, rising in rating AND participating in the Battle of Jutland!
He was 5’5” tall with brown hair, brown eyes and had a scar under his left eye and ear. He was just 19 years old when he was killed. His pension was awarded to his sister Maud, his Star, Victory and British medals were claimed by his brother.
He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
(#10 - 730/843)
Sources:
GRO Reference: 1897 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 435
London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906/Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1906; Reference Number: p93/luk/003
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: 692
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: 010 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/10; Scan Number: 0601
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 175/0899/SUL-SUM
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 116
Photos - courtesy of Peter Sully