Name
Edward Waller
26 April 1867
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/06/1920
53
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13146
Royal Defence Corps
164 Protection Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOURNE END (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD, NORTHCHURCH
3. 633.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, Not on the Bourne End memorials
Pre War
Edward Waller was born on 26 April 1867 in Northchurch, nr Berkhamsted, Herts, the son of John and Sarah Waller and baptised at Berkhamsted on 9 June 1867. On the 1871 and 1881 Censuses, the family were living in High Street, Berkhamsted, where his father was a gardener and his mother a straw plaiter.
He married Ann Rush on 25 December 1886 at Tring, Herts and on the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, he was living with his wife and children at George Street, Berkhamsted, where he was working as a chemical labourer.
They were still living in George Street on the 1911 Census, then residing at No.13. The Census form indicates that they had had six children, but one had died as a child. By the time of his enlistment the family had moved to 25 George Street.
Wartime Service
Edward originally enlisted at the age of 45, into the Bedfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 23601 having been in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry for 22 years. He served at home with the Royal Defence Corps, 16th Protection Company (Territorial Force) from 14 October 1914 until his discharge on 13 October 1917 as he was no longer physically fit and suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis attributed to service.
Records show that he had been ill since January 1917 whilst in Cambridge, when he had a severe cold with cough and spitting of phlegm. He considered the exposure to all kinds of weather while on duty caused his condition, but he did not report sick until after his transfer to Catterick camp. He persevered with medicine and duty until 16 August 1917 when was admitted to hospital. He said he had lost about 2 stones in weight since February 1917. His general condition was poor and he was very thin. Sanatorium Treatment was recommended.
He was discharged and received a Silver War Badge (No. 261814) which was issued in the United Kingdom and the British Empire to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from military service in World War 1. He was also awarded a pension of £1 7s 6d a week.
He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 20 June 1920, aged 53 and is buried at Bourne End (St John) Churchyard.
Additional Information
N.B. The name Edward Waller is listed on the Berkhamsted Memorial outside St Peter's Church, however there are two Edward Wallers with connections to Berkhamsted: Pvt Edward Waller of the Royal Defence Corps (died 1920) and Pvt Edward Waller of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. (died 1917). The inscription on the memorial inside St Peter's Church, which shows the regiment, indicates that the soldier named on the Berkhamsted Memorial is the Edward Waller who served with the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
