Name
Edward Strudwick
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/10/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12975
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
"C" Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GOUZEAUCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
VII. C. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
LOYAL, BRAVE AND TRUE
UK & Other Memorials
St Ippolyts Village Memorial, Roll of Honour, St Ippolyts Church, Not on the Weston memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Gosmore
Pre War
Edward Strudwick was born in 1891, in St Ippolyts, Herts, son of Frank Strudwick and Harriet Strudwick (nee Brown). One of seven children.
He started school on the 20th March 1896, at St Ippolyts National School.
The 1901 Census records Edward aged 9, living with his widowed mother and elder brother Frank 14, in St Ippolyts, Herts.
The 1911 Census records Edward aged 19, single and living at, The Stables, Guilsborough Lodge, Coton, Northamptonshire. His occupation is given as a Groom Domestic.
Edward lived in Weston, Herts for some time and married Julia Aylott from Weston, in 1917.
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted in Hitchin and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 12975. He disembarked in France on the 24th March 1915, and served on the Western Front, he was Killed in Action on the 1st October 1918, and is buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, in France.
Extract from the Battalion War Diary for the 1st October 1918 Reads; “1st Oct – Neuville-Bourjonval. Battalion withdraw to huts at NEUVILLE. “A” Line Transport heavily shelled. Casualties 1 O.R. Killed 1 O.R. wounded, 3 horses killed, and 3 horses wounded”.
His elder brother Frank was Killed in Action on 7th June 1917, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the fallen in Belgium.
Additional Information
Mrs. Strudwick, Weston, Stevenage, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: "LOYAL, BRAVE AND TRUE". The value of his effects were £10-6s-4d, Pay Owing, £19, War Gratuity and an additional payment of £0-17s-9d, which went to his widow Julia Strudwick. His wife Julia was awarded a widows pension of 13/9 a week from 28th April 1919. Her address was, Julia, C/O Mrs Aylott, Maiden Street, Weston, Herts. Some records give his Rank as Lance Corporal. War gratuity of £19 awarded to widow Julia. Although classified as a Private on most documentation, the Medal Index cards also state he was promoted to Corporal. Edwards elder brother Frank was also killed in Action on the 7th June 1917, he has no known grave and is Commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Fallen.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne, Peter Handy, Brenda Palmer
