Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Edward Scarborough was born on 6th November 1879 in Brixton, London to electrical engineer Thomas and Sarah (nee Jones). He was baptised on 28th December 1879 at St John the Evangelist’s church in Westminster. At the time of the baptism the family lived at 12 Bythorn Terrace, Brixton. Thomas Patten was working as an electrician.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 16 Reaburn Street, Brixton. Thomas was working as an electrical engineer and Sarah was looking after their children: Edward, Thomas and Jane.
Edward’s mother Sarah died in 1900 in Lambeth, London.
Edward Scarborough attested at the Guildhall, London on 4th January 1900 into H Coy, Infantry Battalion of the City of London Imperial Volunteers (CIV). He attested for one year with the Colours. He was a Private with the service number 607. At the time of his attestation he was working as an engineer’s assistant. The ‘CIVs’ was a British corps of volunteers during the Second Boer War. Its infantry and mounted infantry divisions were composed of men recruited mainly from existing volunteer regiments in London and Middlesex. Edward had previously belonged to the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.
He had been previously rejected as unfit for Her Majesty’s Service in the Navy on account of defective teeth. It was the rule that a recruit must have sufficient teeth to masticate his food. http://www.historyofdentistry.group/volumes/vol%207%20number%202.pdf
Edward had a dark complexion, brown eyes and hazel hair.
From 4th January 1900 to 19th January 1900 he served in the home service. From 20th January 1900 to 29th October 1900 he served in the Second Boer War. Edward wounded his foot in action at Diamond Hill on 12th June 1900. The Battle of Diamond Hill (Donkerhoek) took place on 11th and 12th June 1900 during the Second Boer War. From 31st October 1900 to 31st December 1900 he served in the home service. On 31st December 1900 Edward Patten Scarborough was discharged as medically unfit for further service. He received the Queen’s South Africa medal.
Edward married Rosetta Florence Pegg on 14th April 1906 at St Giles’ Church, Camberwell, London. At the time of their marriage Edward lived at 89 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell and was working as an electrician. Rosetta lived at 86 Grove Lane, Camberwell. Rosetta was born about 1880 in Camberwell, London to carpenter George, born about 1847 in Islington, London and Mary Anne.
Edward had five children: Margaret Sarah born about 1907; Thomas George born about 1908, both in Deptford, London; Edward born about 1910; Rose L. born in the 3rd quarter of 1912 and Mary J. born in the 4th quarter of 1915, all born in Camberwell.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 4 Wyndham Road, Camberwell. Edward was a wireman (electrical engineer & contractor) and Rosetta was looking after their children: Margaret, Thomas and Edward. The accommodation had two rooms.
At the outbreak of the WW1 Edward re-joined the Army as an ex non-commissioned officer for training purposes. He enlisted in London into the 8th Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was a Corporal with service number S/1016.
He was with the 8th Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment at Shoreham and Worthing, and then with the 3rd Battalion at Chatham. He went to France in June 1916. At the time of his death he was part of the 1st Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.
“A GALLANT SOLDIER”
Mr. T. P. Scarborough, of High Street, Dorking, has received the sad news of the death in action of his eldest son, Corpl. E.P. Scarborough, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt. Corpl. Scarborough served with the C.I.V’s in South Africa, and at the outbreak of the present was in 1914 he rejoined as an ex-noncommissioned officer for training purposes. He was with the 8th Queen’s at Shoreham and Worthing, and then with the 3rd Batt, at Chatham. He went to France in June last and was killed on Sep 25th. His platoon officer writes : “He was a gallant soldier and comrade, and we shall feel his loss keenly in the platoon.” A younger brother, Corporal T.P. Scarborough, Royal Horse Guards, has been in France since 1914, where he has distinguished himself on several occasions, and has been awarded the Croix de Guerre, and the Military Medal. He has been wounded twice.
Edward Scarborough Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Edward was killed in an action on 25th September 1917 in Belgium.
His body was exhumed and re-buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery. His grave reference number is: XI.K.8. He was identified by a pay book and a disc.
Edward received the British War and Victory medals.
Edward’s wife Rosetta received £3 and 6s on 18th February 1918 and a further £8 on 24th October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
According to the 1918 Kelly’s Directory, Edward’s father Thomas was a tobacconist at 21 High Street Buildings in Dorking.
Thomas died on 9th February 1928 in Dorking. He left to his wife Mary and his son Thomas £2403, 8s and 4d in the Probate.
Scarborough Family History
Edward’s father Thomas was born about 1851 in Chester, Cheshire to brass worker and gas fitter James, born about 1828 in Liverpool, Lancashire and Jane, born about 1826 in Liverpool. At the time of the 1871 Census, Thomas was working as an electric bell hanger. His mother Sarah was born about 1853 in Westminster to gas fitter Edward, born about 1823 and Mary Ann, born about 1823, both in Cheshire. Thomas and Sarah married in April 1878 at St John the Evangelist’s church in Westminster. At the time of their marriage the couple lived at Bessborough Gardens in Westminster and Thomas was working as an electrician.
Edward had two known siblings: Thomas born about 1884 and Jane born about 1889, both in Brixton, London.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the widowed Thomas lived at 16 Reaburn Street, Lambeth. He was working as an electrical engineer. The household further comprised of his children: electrical engineers Edward and Thomas, and Jane. The family was looked after by a housekeeper. Thomas remarried Mary Eleanor Brown on 9th April 1902 at Birkenhead, Cheshire. Mary was born about 1869 in Birkenhead.
Edward had three known half siblings: Robert born about 1903; Charles born about 1906 and Gertrude born about 1910, all in Brixton.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Edward’s father, Thomas lived at 16 Raeburn Street, Brixton. The household further comprised of his wife Mary and their children: Robert, Charles and Gertrude. Mary stated that she had given birth to four children of whom three were still alive. The accommodation had six rooms.
| Born | Brixton | |
| Lived | Camberwell | |
| Son of | Thomas Patten and Sarah (nee Jones) Scarborough | |
| Husband of | Rosetta Florence Pegg | |
| Enlisted | London | |
| Regiment | 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | S/1106 | |
| Date of Death | 27th September 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Flanders | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 37 | |
| Cemetery | Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium |
