242106 L/Cpl. Charles William Ede British Army 2nd Btn. South Wales Borderers from:Lambeth (d.1st Jul 1916) Charles William Ede was a member of a large family. His mother had 13 children of whom only 8 survived childhood.
He was born in 1891 between April and June (his official registration of birth is filed in year quarters.) So far it has not been possible to find a record of an exact date of birth (or a Christening which was certainly the usual practice for that family).
His life story is not fully known except that he was a porter in the retail boot trade at the age of 19.
He died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and is buried in Y Ravine Cemetery Beaumont Hamel, France. His effects and pay were sent to his father, Charles.
It is not known why he joined this particular Regiment, The South Wales Borderers when he was from London. Various of his family members were saddlers and carters and a Cavalry or Artillery Regiment may have been a more obvious choice.
However, that is a matter of serendipity and pride as the descendant writing this and researching his and her family tree came unexpectedly to live in Monmouthshire and has been there for a lifetime.
|