Name
Edward William Hill
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Bedfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Edward Hill was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in June 1917, serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment, however his Service Record indicated that he enlisted on 20th August 1914, and was posted for duty at Bedford on 21st August.
It is not known exactly what happened next. The next entry in Edward’s Pension Record noted that he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Barrington, Nottingham for treatment to a gun-shot wound to his chest between 17th and 30th October 1916. It is presumed that the wound was received when he was at the Front, but it is not known when he went to France, or which battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment he served with.
Presumably Edward recovered and returned to France, and was once again wounded in 1917, and returned to England for treatment. He was admitted to a Military Hospital at Keighley between13th October and 9th November 1917 with a shell wound to his left hand, before being transferred to the Cliff Military Hospital at Felixstowe. He left hospital on 22nd December, and returned to France.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded that in January 1918 Edward was serving with the 1st Bedfordshire’s. He was wounded for the third time in January 1918, and for the third time returned to hospital in England, once again being admitted to the Cliff Military Hospital at Felixstowe between 27th January and 10th April 1918, with a gun-shot wound in his left hand. It is presumed that he once again returned to France, but his Pension Record noted that he was back in England from 27th August 1918, and was admitted to the Lord Derby War Hospital at Warrington this time requiring treatment for a gun-shot wound to his right leg. He remained at the Lord Derby Hospital till 25th September when he was transferred to the Hemme de Stem (sic) Hospital at Felixstowe. He remained at Felixstowe until finally being transferred to the County of Middlesex Hospital at Napsbury. He left Napsbury on 14th February 1919 destined for dispersal and demobilisation. He was demobilised on 15th March 1919 and was transferred to the Army Reserve.
A Medical Report compiled on 10th February 1919 prior discharge from hospital at Felixstowe, noted that Edward was considered 20% disabled, with the disability being caused in action, as a result of a gun-shot wound in his right leg incurred in August 1918. As a result Edward was granted a War Pension of 5/6d for 26 weeks, payable from 16th March 1919.
Edward Hill was born in the winter of 1888 at Abbots Langley. He was the only son of Edward and Louisa Hill. Edward (senior) worked as a Labourer, and in 1891 the family lived at Waterside in Kings Langley. In the 1901 Census Edward (senior) and Edward (junior) were both employed as Labourers at a Paper Mill, and the family had moved to Breakspeare Terrace, Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. By the time of the 1911 Census Edward (junior) was living at Bedmond. When he enlisted in August 1914 he gave his occupation as “Labourer”.
Edward Hill survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
