Lest We Forget: War Stories from the Archive.
Written by Charlotte Burford and Ann Brown.
5/11/2020
The Edgell Family Archive
A few weeks ago Charlotte selected another box from our Document archive to catalogue and digitise. The box was labelled the Edgell Family Archive. “Inside I discovered piles of Documents, letters and books from the early 1900s through to the 1930’s. Many were handwritten letters and seemed to be heart-warming family correspondence.” All the letters and documents related to the Edgell Family who lived and worked in Littlehampton as Mechanical Engineers.
With the help of our Volunteer researcher, Ann, we have pieced together the story of this Family and their sad loss during World War One.
One of the first letters we picked out of the box was a telegram, one of the cold realities of war that every family dreaded receiving. Today the world is so connected that news travels at the press of a button but in 1918 the fastest way to convey bad news was via telegram.
Edward Henry Edgell
As you can see the telegram was to inform the Edgell family that their son, Eddie, who was serving with the newly created Royal Air Force, was missing. The telegram was received on the15th August 1918.
But who was Eddie Edgell?
Edward Edgell was born on the 1st July 1899 to parents Albert Edward Edgell and Esther Edgell. Eddie was one of 6 Children, his father also had children from a previous marriage.
His family has moved from London to Littlehampton sometime between 1904 and 1911. The Census shows them living at 26 Norfolk Road, Littlehampton. Both Eddie and his Father are described as Scientific instrument makers.
Eddie was called up for Service on 3rd October 1917 and was enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps. Eddie was barely 18 Years old at the time he enlisted. In the later part of 1917 and the early part of 1918 Eddie was a Flight Cadet and spent his time training, learning Morse Code and Topography. In April 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (R.A.F) where he trained as an officer cadet. By July 1918 he had been granted a temporary promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and was posted to France.
On August 11th 1918 Eddie was out on a mission as a Gunner alongside Pilot 2nd Lieutenant Geary. It is thought that during this mission the pair were gunned down and were consequently reported missing. Both men were only 19 years old.
Albert had rather touchingly written to his son on July 25th 1918 words of fatherly advice ‘keep yourself cool as possible when you are at work, you will be more sure of your aim when shooting’
His father wrote to his Squadron soon after he was reported missing to try to ascertain what had happened. The reply written on 1st September records that Eddie was sent on a bombing raid and the plane was seen going down in flames after heavy enemy action and there was little hope he had survived, it also records that his effects were being sent on from Boulogne. Mungo Park writes that Eddie was a gallant and popular officer.
