Name
Edwin James Dyer
1865
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/11/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
Royal Engineers
3rd Provision Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Edwin James Dyer was born in Kennington or Lambeth, London in 1865, son of Edward Wilson Dyer an Office Keeper and Jane Dyer (nee Parsons). One of six children. He was Baptised on 12th November 1869, at St Mary's Church, Lambeth. His mother Jane died in October 1871, aged 48.
1871 Census records Edwin aged 6, his sister Jane 14 and brother Andrew 10, living with their Aunt and Uncle, Jacob and Caroline Dyer, in Swan Yard, Church Street, Lambeth.
His father Edward remarried in May 1872, to Rachel Goode. He died in August 1876, aged 53.
1881 Census records Edwin aged 15, an inmate of the Middlesex County Industrial School, Feltham, Middlesex, he was detained under the Industrial Schools Act. (A training establishment for wayward children, designed to give then a training and to keep them on the straight and narrow).
1891 Census records Edwin aged 25, working as a Shoemaker and a visitor at The Grove, Lambeth, London.
He married Emma Helen Perry on 29th October 1900 at the Strand Registry Office, London.
1901 Census records Edwin as married and his occupation is given as a General Labourer. He and Emma lived at 85, Medway Road, Croydon, Surrey. His nephew Albert Newman was living with them.
Edwin and Emma lived in Grover Road, Oxhey, Bushey, Herts, at the outbreak of the war.
Wartime Service
Edwin volunteered in London, on 18th October 1915, and sent to Chatham, Kent, joining the 3rd Provision Company, Royal Engineers, with the Service No. 133142. His Service Record shows he was 47 years old and a Handyman by Trade, married and lived in Grover Road, Oxhey, Herts. He was attested on 22nd October 1915, after a short period of training he was sent to France, on 11th November 1915. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal in October 1915.
He served in France from 11th November 1915 to 23rd October 1916, when he returned home no longer physically fit for war service. He was Discharged under kings Regulations 392 (xvi) sickness, on 5th January 1917, at Chatham, Kent. Awarded the Silver War Badge No. 115959, on 13th January 1917. Edwin died on 23rd November 1917, aged 52, He was buried on 1st December 1917, at the Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford, Herts.
Please note: The National Roll of the Great War, 1914-1918 information contradicts some of the above. It suggests that he volunteered in 1915 and was drafted to France in the same year. It records that he was engaged on important duties in connection with operations, and was almost continually in the front lines, notably at Armentieres and La Bassee. It also states that he sustained severe shell-shock, and died on November 2rd (November as recorded above). I also gives address as 4 Grover Road, Watford.
Additional Information
Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
