Name
Edward William Pallett
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/05/1919
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12058
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
North East Grave 656
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
R.I.P.
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Edward was born in 1889 in Fulham, London and his parents were Edward and Ada Pallett.
In 1891 the family were living at 139 Estcourt Road, Fulham, London. Present were both parents: Edward (27) and Ada (26) and their child Edward William (1). Edward (senior) worked as a labourer.
By 1901 Edward (senior)’s wife was recorded as Harriett (36), so it is possible that Ada had died and that he had remarried. They were living at 19 Moreton Road, Stratford, West Ham, Essex. Edward was working as a builder’s labourer. The children now listed were now Edward (11), George (9), daughter M A Pallett (3) and Albert (1),
Edward (junior) married Ethel Foster in 1909 in Hitchin and by 1911 they were living at 7 St Michaels Mount, Hitchin, Herts. Edward was working as a domestic gardener. The census recorded they had been married for 3 years with 1 child - Ivy Laura Pallett (1), but they later had another three children.
He enlisted on August 19th, 1914, soon after war was declared, and before then he had worked for Hitchin Rural Council.
Wartime Service
National Roll of the Great War – these were normally placed by family members using what they knew and are not always 100% correct. His entry differs from other information available e.g. it states that he was in the 6th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment whereas the CWGC information and his headstone records him in the Hertfordshire Regiment. It records that he volunteered in August 1914 (in fact on August 19th, 19140, and we do know that he landed in France on 30 July 1915, so that is correct. Also that he fought at Ypres, on the Somme, at Arras, Albert and Cambrai and was twice badly wounded in action and eventually died of his effects of his wounds.
The Hertfordshire Express on 31 May 1919 recorded that he died in the Hitchin Military Hospital having served in in France an Belgium for four and half years. He had returned from France on April 28th and was on demobilisation furlough when he developed pneumonia, he was doing well but it re-occurred is was said that “Towards the end the deceased seemed to feel deeply the sorrow of leaving his family, after having faced death in France for so long.”
Perhaps the National Roll entry was correct in that he wounds had made it difficult for him to recover.
He had a service at St. Saviours Church, and then military style funeral including a firing party under the command of the adjutant of Kempston Barracks, Bedford, who fired a volley over the grave and the ‘Last Post’ was played.
He died from pneumonia and was buried in Grave NE 656 in Hitchin Cemetery on the 26th May 1919.
The newspaper article explained that he was in the 6th Bedfords but attached to Hertfordshires. However, this may still be misleading as he was buried as in the Hertfordshire Regiment, suggesting that the attachment, if any, was the other way round. The confusion may because of the amalgamation of the remnants of Hertfordshire Regiment with those of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which began in May 1918 and the formation of the Herts and Bedfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
His Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery stone bears the additional inscription "R.I.P." ordered by his widow while living at 380, Icknield Way, Letchworth, Herts.
After his death £27 pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Ethel Pallett, on 13 August 1919, however the was shown as recharged on 3 January 1920, but this was then crossed out so it is not clear whether or not she received this. Later, a war gratuity of £1 9s 0d was authorised to be paid to “H R Grellet Surgeons” 23 December 1920.
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin/dependant, living at 7 St Michaels Mount, Walsworth, Herts. She was awarded a grant of £8 on 16 June 1919 the details of any pension awarded are not recorded
Ethel remarried to become Mrs Allum of 380, Icknield Way, Letchworth, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
