Name
Edward Christopher Halsey
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/01/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/25405
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
3/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
III. F. 28.
France
Headstone Inscription
WE SHALL MEET AGAIN
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Separate plaque in British Schools Museum, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Welwyn village memorials
Pre War
Edward was born in 1898 in Welwyn and his parents were John Edward and Minnie Agusto Halsey.
In 1901 the family were living at 106 Nightingale Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (35) and Minnie (38), with John and working as a butcher’s assistant. Their children were: John Titus (6), Joseph (4), Mary Jane (3) and Edward C (2).
By 1911 the family were living at 31 Grove Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, John still working as a butcher’s assistant. The census recorded they had been married for 17 years with 4 children, all living. All the children listed above were present.
He enlisted in February 1917, and officially Edward was recorded as born in Welwyn, Herts., and living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
After training he went to France in November of 1917 that year. He was given the Regimental Number G/25405 and served with the 3/4th Battalion.
He served at Albert but was killed in action instantly outside Cambrai when a shell exploded nearby.
His parents received a letter from Edward’s Commanding Officer which said “although he had only been a short time with the regiment, he had already shown himself to be a youth of fine type and character, and his death was a great loss to the regiment, as well as to his family. It might be a comfort to his parents to know that he suffered no pain (a shell, bursting near, killing him instantly), and that he died doing his duty.”. The chaplain wrote: “He was always a regular attendant at my services, and I knew him as a good-hearted lad.”
Additional Information
After his death £7 10s 3d was authorised to go to his mother, Minnie, on 10 October 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 17 November 1919.
He has two older brothers serving, Sapper John T W Halsey with the Royal Engineers in Salonica, and Private Joseph Halsey, in France with the Machine Gun Corps.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
David C Baines, P.R. Hughes, Paul Johnson, Adrian Dunne, Jonty Wild
