2nd Lieutenant, Guy Victor EDMUNDS
Aged 19
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Guy Victor Edmunds was born in Soham on 15th March 1897 (Newmarket Q2-1897 3B:517), baptised on 25th April 1897 in Soham, son of Alfred and Marion EDMUNDS (née SMITH).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Churchgate Street, Soham with his father Alfred EDMUNDS [46] draper/grocer born Wisborough Green, Sussex; his mother Marion [37] born Wadhurst, Sussex; sister Annie V [13] born Soham; brothers Alfred E [14] born Croydon, Cecil H [11], Reginald C [9], Claude L [7] and grandmother Mary Ann SMITH [75] born Horsmonden, Kent. His brothers (except Alfred) were all born in Soham. He was admitted to Soham Grammar school from Soham Council School on 5th May 1908, aged 11 years 1 month (15-3-1897), when his father as Parish Clerk. (source:- http://www.sohamgrammar.org.uk/go-to-admission-register.htm ) 1911 census...Aged 14, a scholar, he was at Clay Street, Soham with his parents (father now an accountant); Sister Annie Victoria; brothers Cecil Harry (student) Reginald Chase (miller's clerk), Claude Lambert (printer's apprentice) and Guy Victor (scholar) and grandmother Mary Ann SMITH. His parents were later at Sussex House, Soham. His elder brother Cecil Harry was killed in France in 1918. see here |
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The battalion was just south of SOUCHEZ. The hand written war diary of the 1st Surrey Rifles is not totally legible but in essence it reads : 23rd..8:15 pm Battn attacked position taken by the enemy on evening of 21st May (dotted red on map attached) on conjunction with 34th London Regt and 99th Infantry Bde on our right. A Coy attacked supported by C & D Coy who each left one platoon in Reserve. B Coy held LOVE and MOMBER craters and front line behind them. Battn bombers worked along front line from craters and also bombed up GOBRON and ERSATZ. Our Lewis gun occupied position near craters and then advanced with C & D Coy. We re-took the old front line and held it for about 1 1/2 hours., after which as the troops on the right had not succeeded in getting forward we were forced to retire and we then held RETRENCHMENT and GOBRON (-???) they also made a second attempt assisted by the 22nd London Regt bombers to regain ERSATZ but were driven back to the reserve line. During these operations all trenches were badly flattened out by hostile artillery and it was with great difficulty that our repairs and communications were carried out. During the night 23/24th we consolidated the position assisted by the RE & Pioneer Battn (4th RWF). Of the 57 men of the 1st Surrey Rifles killed during this operation, only one has an identified grave. Local press report:- SOHAM OFFICER MISSING - A young and promising career has apparently been blighted in the heart-rending news just received by Mr. and Mrs.A.Edmunds, of Sussex House, Soham, concerning their youngest son, Second-Lieut. Guy Victor Edmunds, who is reported as missing. The sad news, which has come to hand from a fully reliable source, bespeaks of wonderful bravery on the part of this young officer who was only 19 years of age. His loss will occasion much regret in the town, where he was extremely well known, any many have been the expressions of sympathy to the bereaved parents. Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds have four other sons also serving in the Army. Claude, the fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds is now home from the front for a few day's rest from the trenches.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also on the Soham war memorial. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
