Name
Edward Whittington Wild
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Edward Wild’s association with Abbots Langley was through marriage. On 12th December 1918 Edward married Kathleen Slade from Abbots Langley, at St Lawrence Church in the village. At the time Edward was serving with the Royal Navy and was an Able Seaman aboard HMS “Conqueror”, a battleship of Grand Fleet that had taken part in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.
Edward was born at Rickmansworth on 7th December 1892. He was one of eight children born to Walter and Louisa Wild. At the time of Edward’s birth the family lived at Nightingale Road, Rickmansworth, and Walter’s occupation was given as a Brewer. At the time of the 1901 Census the family had moved to the Old Brewery, Uxbridge Road, Mill End, Rickmansworth. Walter was listed as a Mineral Water Manufacturer, and the former Old Brewery had become a Mineral Water Manufacturing Factory.
By 1911 the family had moved again and lived at Bushey Hall Road, Bushey. Walter worked as a newsagent, and Edward was employed as a Railway Clerk. The UK Railway Employment Records indicated that he commenced work as an Apprentice at Euston Station, with the London & North-west Railway. He started work on 14th May 1907 at the age of 14 with an annual salary of £ 25. He was still recorded in the Railway Employment Records to 1st January 1916, earning £ 100 a year as a Railway Clerk, however from 14th August 1914 it was noted that he was On His Majesty’s Service, so it is assumed that at this point he had enlisted into the Royal Navy.
Kathleen Slade was born in Abbots Langley in 1896. She was one of three children born to Edward and Kate Slade. In the 1901 Census the family was recorded living at Abbots Road, Abbots Langley, and Edward was employed as a Railway Clerk. By 1911 Kathleen was living with her brother Edward “Fred” at Bedmond. Fred also worked as a Railway Clerk, and may have known his future brother in law Edward Wild through their work on the railways.
Edward Whittington Wild survived the War however his brother in law Fred Slade was drowned whilst bathing at the rear of the British trenches on the Somme on 12th August 1915 whilst serving with the 9th County of London Battalion, Queen Victoria’s Rifles.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
