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Thank you to Bernice Forsyth and Mary Day from Capel Local History Group for allowing Dorking Museum to publish their research, and thank you to Lenka Cathersides for additional research.
Alfred Ede was born on 23rd January 1898 in Coldharbour, Surrey to labourer Henry and Annie Maria (nee Larkham). He was baptised on 13th March 1898 at Christ Church, Coldharbour. At the time of the baptism Henry was working as a game keeper and the family lived in Coldharbour.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived in Coldharbour. Henry was working as an agricultural labourer and Annie was at home looking after their children: Alice, Henry, Emily, Annie, Alfred and George E.
On 3rd September 1906, Alfred was admitted into the Dorking British School. At the time of his admission the family lived at 73 Orchard Road, Dorking. The previous school that he attended was in Coldharbour. Alfred left the Dorking British School on 19th October 1909.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at No 11 Beare Green Cottages, Beare Green, near Dorking. Henry was working as a farm labourer and Annie was at home looking after their children: Alfred, George, Frank and Elsie. Annie stated that she had given birth to eight children. The accommodation had five rooms.
Alfred Ede worked in pre-war days on the Arnolds Estate in Beare Green.
Alfred enlisted in Guildford, Surrey into the 8th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was only 17 when he joined up. He was a Private with regimental number T/205954. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Dorking.
“A GOOD SOLDIER”
Another Capel man to make the great sacrifice is Pte. Alfred Ede, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ede, Beare Green Cottages. He was killed in France on November 23rd; he was a chum of Private Pullen (who death is recorded above). He also worked in pre-war days on the Arnolds estate. He was only 19 years of age, and was only 17 when he joined up. He was another old Capel School boy. Sec-Lieut. Lewin, commanding deceased’s company, has written a kindly sympathetic letter to Mrs. Ede, in which he says:- “It will, perhaps, comfort you to know that your son did not suffer much for when he was killed almost instantaneously. He as at all…
Pte. A. Ede
(The Queen’s)
… times a good soldier, and what makes his death all the more regrettable is the fact that he had recently conducted himself very well indeed in an attack, for which he volunteered. Your only consolation, poor though it may seem, lies in the fact that your son died doing his duty as a soldier and a man.” Pte. W. F. Rowe of the same platoon, writes that Pte. Ede was killed in the early morning of the 23rd November, by an enemy patrol. They had both volunteered and raided the enemy’s trenches a couple of days before, and they came through that alright. “He was the best pal I ever had.” Pte. Rowe adds, “and we are all very sorry to lose him.”
Pte Alfred Ede was killed in action on 23rd November 1917 in France. He was killed almost instantaneously. At the time of Alfred’s death his family still lived at Beare Green Cottages.
Pte W.F. Rowe of the same platoon wrote that Pte Ede was killed in the early morning of the 23rd of November by an enemy patrol. They had both volunteered and raided the enemy trenches a couple of days before, and they came through that all right.
Alfred was a friend of Pte John Henry Pullen who was killed on 3rd November 1917 in Palestine. Pte Pullen lived at Arnold Cottages, Beare Green.
Alfred Ede received the British War and Victory medals.
Alfred’s father Henry received £5, 10s and 3d on 8th April 1918 and a further £10 on 11th December 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Ede Family History
Alfred’s father Henry was born in the 4th quarter of 1864 in Dorking to agricultural labourer Alfred, born about 1836 in Dorking and Hannah, born about 1839 in Alfold, Surrey. Henry was baptised on 25th December 1864 at St John the Evangelist’s church, Wotton. Alfred was working as a labourer and the family lived in Wotton. At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at Lower Merreden, Coldharbour, Surrey. Alfred’s mother Annie Maria Larkham was born in the 3rd quarter of 1868 in Titchfield, Hampshire to cowman Alfred, born about 1841 in Blendworth, Hampshire and Emily born about 1845 in Catherington, Hampshire. Annie was baptised on 6th September 1868 in Titchfield.
Henry and Annie married on 12th June 1889 at Christ Church, Coldharbour. At the time of their marriage Henry was working as a labourer and lived at Lower Merreden, Coldharbour. Annie Maria lived at Upper Merreden, Coldharbour.
Alfred had seven siblings: Alice born about 1889; Henry born about 1891; Emily born about 1893; Annie born about 1895; George born about 1901; Frank born about 1904 and Elsie born about 1906, all in Coldharbour.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived in Coldharbour. Henry was working as an agricultural labourer and Annie was at home looking after their children Alice and Henry. The household further comprised of two lodgers.
| Born | Coldharbour, Surrey | |
| Lived | Mill Lane, Dorking | |
| Son of | Henry and Anne Maria Ede | |
| Enlisted | Guildford | |
| Regiment | 8th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | T/205954 | |
| Date of Death | 23rd November 1917 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Died of wounds | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Cemetery | Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France |
