Private Alfred Ede

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 the 23^rd of January 1898 in Coldharbour, Surrey to labourer Henry Ede and Annie Maria Ede nee Larkham. He was baptised on the 13^th of March 1898 at Christ Church, Coldharbour, Surrey. 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, Surrey. Henry was working as an agricultural labourer and Annie Maria was at home looking after their children: Alice, Henry, Emily, Annie, Alfred and George E.

On the 3^rd of September 1906 Alfred Ede 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 Ede left the Dorking British School on the 19^th of October 1909. He and his family left Dorking.

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 Maria 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 8^th 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.

Pte Alfred Ede was killed in action on the 23^rd of November 1917 in France. He was killed almost instantaneously.

Pte W.F. Rowe of the same platoon wrote that Pte Ede was killed in the early morning of the 23^rd 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.

He was a friend of Pte John Henry Pullen who was killed on the 3^rd of 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 Ede received £5, 10s and 3d on the 8^th of April 1918 and a further £10 on the 11^th of December 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.

At the time of Alfred’s death his family still lived at Beare Green Cottages.

Ede Family History

Alfred’s father Henry Ede was born in the 4^th quarter of 1864 in Dorking, Surrey to agricultural labourer Alfred Ede, born about 1836 in Dorking, Surrey and Hannah Ede, born about 1839 in Alfold, Surrey. Henry was baptised on the 25^th of December 1864 at St John the Evangelist’s church, Wotton, Surrey. 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 3^rd quarter of 1868 in Titchfield, Hampshire to cowman Alfred Larkham, born about 1841 in Blendworth, Hampshire and Emily Larkham born about 1845 in Catherington, Hampshire. Annie Maria was baptised on the 6^th of September 1868 in Titchfield, Hampshire.

Henry Ede and Annie Maria Larkham married, by Banns, on the 12^th of June 1889 at Christ Church, Coldharbour, Surrey. 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 Ede 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, Surrey.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived in Coldharbour, Surrey. 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