Name
Edmund Charles Atkins
25 March 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17462
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RIBEMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME
I. F. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley Village Memorial,
London Colney Village Memorial
Pre War
Edmund Charles Atkins was born on 25 March 1897 in Colney, Hertfordshire, the son of Charles and Amelia Atkins, and was baptised at St Peter, Colney on 30 May 1897. He was the eldest of four children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Cranford Lane, Harlington, Middlesex, where his father was an agricultural worker. By the 1911 Census the family had moved to Myrtle Villa, London Colney, Herts.
Edmund was educated at school in London Colney and in 1907 both Edmund and his sister Edith were given medals for completing two or more years of perfect attendance. He was a member of the Church Lad's Brigade and a member of the Young Men's Bible Class.
Prior to enlistment, Edmund worked as a cowman on the Porters Park estate (where his father also worked) owned by Cecil F Raphael who kept a large, prizewinning herd of shorthorn cattle and a smaller herd of Jersey cows for milking.
On enlistment he gave his home address as The Model Farm, Shenley and his occupation as cowman. (N.B. The Model Farm was close to the London Colney Airfield and was requisitioned by the military in February 1916, at which time his Edmund's parents moved to The Bothy, Colney Park, nr St Albans, Herts, and later Shenleybury Farm Cottage.)
Wartime Service
He enlisted at St Albans on the 24 January 1916 and was initially placed in the army reserve, being mobilised on 25 April 1916 when he was posted to the Royal West Kent Regiment. He was sent to France on 20 September 1916, joining the 11th Battalion in the field on 6 October 1916.
On 20 September 1917 he was wounded, with a gun shot to the right arm. After recovery he was sent back to the battalion on 8 February 1918 and given 14 days leave from 17 March, enabling him to spend his 21st birthday with his family. He was posted to the 6th Battalion on his return and the following month was posted again, this time to the 7th Battalion.
Edmund died on 23 August 1918, aged 21, from wounds received in action, and is buried in Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £11 4s 11d. She also received a pension of five shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
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