MENDHAM, Edward


No.PO/12147, Private, Edward MENDHAM
Aged 37


Portsmouth Division, Royal Marines Light Infantry
attached to HMS "Mersey"
Died of Illness on Tuesday, 31st December 1918


Royal Marines Long Service and Good Conduct medal




Edward Mendham was born on 3rd January 1881 in Barton Mills () youngest son of George and Emma MENDHAM (née CAPP).

1881 census...Aged 3 months, he was at The Street, Barton Mills with his father George MENDHAM [41] farm labourer born Herringswell; his mother Emmna [43] born Icklingham; brother George [14] and Walter [9] and sister Clare [5] all born in Herringswell; sister Kate [3] born Exning.

1891 census...Aged 10, he was at 12 Cake Street, Beck Row with his parents; sister Clara (domestic servant) and sister Kate. His mother died in 1898 (reg.Mildenhall)

1901 census...Aged 20, he was a railway porter, boarding with Joseph and Rhoda PRIESTMAN at 84 Miller Road, Walthamstow. His widower father and sister Clara were in The Street, Eriswell

On 21st September 1907 he married Dora HEMLIN (born 1888 in Portsmouth) in Portsmouth.

1911 census...Aged 30, he was in the Royal Marines attached to HMS Harrier. He and his wife, Hetty Dora, were at 5 Shaftesbury Road, Gosport, Hants. His father and sister Clara were at 32 Eriswell. His son Horace Edward was born in 1911 (Portsmoth Q3)

His father died in 1913 (reg Mildenhall). CWGC have his parents at 26 Lavinia Road, Gosport, Hants, but The Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Grave Roll 1914-1919 has his widow Dora K living there.


He enlisted on 18th February 1902 in the Royal Marines when a painter's improver living in London, 5 feet 8 inches tall(172.7cm) tall , dark hair and blue eyes, Wesleyan. His father George, of Eriswell, was next of kin. When he re-enlisted on 4th February 1914 his next of kin was changed to his wife Dora at..(un-readable).
His records include far too many vessels to include here, but he was attached to HMS Mersey when he died in Romania from the influenza pandemic.


June to December 1907 when on HMS Goliath,
presumably in Home waters, since he married in September 1907










Bucharest photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Edward Mendham was buried in St.Constantine Protestant Cemetery, Braila, then concentrated to Bucharest War Cemetery in 1924 and also commemorated on his parent's gravestone, in the Eriswell cemetery.

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click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details

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