Name
Harold Bernard Edney
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/11/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Drummer
8886
South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MESSINES RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY
V. C. 4.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Harpenden memorials, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Harold Bernard was born around May 1896 to Gertude (nee COOK) Edney. Harold was born 1896 in Harpenden.
His parents married 7 June 1895 at St Mary’s Church, Dover. James died 1896 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district aged 35, and was buried 15 February at St Mary’s, Redbourn, Herts.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he was a child at Kensington and Chelsea District Branch School. The 1911 census has him enlisted in 2 Battalion South staffs Regiment as a Drummer. His service number suggests that his enlistment was between Jan to Dec 1910.
Officially recorded as born in Harpenden and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Dover, Kent.
Wartime Service
The 1st battalion South Staffs Regiment had returned from South Africa in Sep 1914, were re-kitted and were landed, Harold included, at Zeebrugge on 6 Oct 1914. They were entrenched in front of Ypres and were the subject of considerable shelling during the 1st battle of Ypres (Oct to Nov 1914).
Prisoner of war records indicate Harold was wounded and taken prisoner on 7 Nov 1914., while his death is recorded as 3 Nov 1914 (possibly the date he was reported as Missing). He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died whilst a Prisoner of War.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £8 3s 6d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
