Name
Edward Stephen Ayling
April 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/06/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
300493
London Rifle Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford,
Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance,
Not on the Bushey memorials(*2)
Pre War
Edward Stephen Ayling was born in 17 March 1887 in Bushey. Son of the late James and Kate Louisa (nee CONQUEST) AYLING.
His parents married 14 August 1882 at St Luke’s, Kentish Town, London. Kate died 1890 in Bushey, Herts, aged 30, and was buried 20 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; James died 27 July 1910 in Watford aged 53, and was buried 30 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
In 1881 his father, James Ayling, who came from Sussex, was living in Islington, employed as a railway clerk. He was a boarder with Robert and Sarah Conquest and their family and the following year married their daughter, Kate. James and Kate had four children but Kate died in 1890 at the age of 29.
The census returns for 1891 and 1901 show James living with his children at 23 Pinner Road, Oxhey, a property they shared with others. James was now employed as an accountant to a frigate firm. Edward, the third of his four children, attended Watford Boys’ Grammar School from April 1901 to May 1904. .
In 1911, Edward, now 24, and his sister, Kate, named after her mother, were boarding at 58 Kingsfield Road, Oxhey with the Hemming family. Edward was employed as a commercial clerk. His younger brother, Henry Conquest Ayling, also named after his mother, died the following year at the age of 23.
Wartime Service
There is no trace of AYLING E S in either the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s dataset or in Soldiers Died in the Great War. However, there is Edward Stephen AYLING who was a Sergeant in the 5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) who died 24 June 1918 from illness contracted whilst serving in France.(*1)
On 4 September 1914 Edward enlisted at Bunhill Road, London, in the Territorial Force for 4 years’ service in the U.K., his Service number was 670, then 300493, with the London Rifle Brigade, giving his address at that time as 25 Kingsfield Road, Oxhey where his sister, Kate, was living. His papers state that he was a clerk, aged 27 years and 5 months, 5’10” in height with good vision and physical development and a ‘good character’
He served at Home 4 September 1914 to 9 July 1916, during which time he was appointed Lance-Corporal 21 January 1915; and in France 10 July 1916 to 19 August 1917, when he was promoted to Acting Corporal 30 July 1916, appointed Corporal 14 March 1917
He was gassed 12 April 1917, appointed Lance-Sergeant 22 May 1917, and promoted Sergeant 16 July 1917. He suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh 16 August 1917, was admitted to 17 Casualty Clearing Station, and sent back to England 19 August 1917. He served at Home again 20 August to 22 November 1917, when he was discharged being no longer physically fit for war service - ‘totally incapacitated’ by a lung ‘infection attributable to service in the present war’. He was discharged under Kings Regulations "P392 XVI. K.R. Wounded" and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 277224. He was aged 30.
He received a pension of £1/12/6d a week (to be reviewed after 39 weeks), He died on 24 June 1918, aged 31.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Additional Information
*1 Although not found in CWGC records, the identification of this man appears to be confirmed by a grave in Watford Cemetery, which seems likely to include Edward's body. While the inscription is difficult to read in the image we have we believe it to be:
EDWARD STEPHEN AYLING (SERGEANT XX?) DIED 24TH JUNE 1918.
*2 Recorded as born in Bushey, but it is possible that this was the postal town for Oxhey?
There is a Death announcement for Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 29 June 1918.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
The value of his effect were £17-10s-0d, which went to his elder brother Frederick Ayling and his Executor.
There is no trace of AYLING E S in the CWGC records.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“AYLING, EDWARD STEPHEN. School period: April, 1901, to May, 1904. Sergeant, London Rifle Brigade. Died 24th June, 1918, from illness contracted whilst serving in France. Over three years."
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
