Edward James Biggerstaff d. 02/02/1940 | Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

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Edward James Biggerstaff d. 02/02/1940

Edward James Biggerstaff d. 02/02/1940

Edward James Biggerstaff d. 02/02/1940

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Edward James' father was also called Edward. He was born in 1858, the son of Henry (a drayman) and Ann (nee Grace).The family lived at 48 Ellesmere Road. Edward was a brewery worker in his early days.  He married Fanny Caroline (nee Gomm) and they lived at 16 Provident Place.  They had two children: Edward James and Audrey Marguerite. The family have had more than their fair share of loss: Edward's brother Harry was killed at Flanders in WW1 and his younger brother Frederick was a porter at Berkhamsted and killed by a train in 1948. Edward James joined the navy in 1923 and was killed in June 1940 aboard HM Submarine Odin.  The loss of the Odin and Edward James' presumed death was reported in the local Gazette: Local Man In Lost Submarine.  Chief Petty Officer E.J. Biggerstaff.  Behind the statement issued this week that the British Submarine Odin is considerably overdue and must be presumed lost is a local tragedy which will evoke the sympathy of all.  A member of the crew of H.M. Submarine Odin was Chief Petty Officer Edward James Biggerstaff, of 112 Belswins Lane, Hemel Hempstead. A native of Berkhamsted, he was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Edward Biggerstaff of 16 Provident Place, Berkhamsted, and with them and his wife and four years-old son the sincere sympathy of their many friends in both towns will be expressed in their great loss.  CPO Biggerstaff was 35 years of age, was educated at Berkhamsted Church of England Victoria School under the headmastership of Mr Edward Popple, and then entered the Royal Navy, in which he had served for 15 and a half years. For the past three years he had been on the China Station.  He was remarkably keen on his work and had always been particularly interested in the submarine section of the service. His promotion to the high Warrant Officer rank of Chief Petty Officer was full assurance of the quality of his service to the Royal Navy.  His relatives were informed some little time ago that he was reported "missing".  HM Submarine Odin (Lieut.-Com.K.M.Woods, R.N.) was completed in May 1928 and was the prototype of the Odin class, having five sister vessels. She had an overall length of 283 feet and carried guns and torpedo tubes.
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Edward James’ father was also called Edward. He was born in 1858, the son of Henry (a drayman) and Ann (nee Grace).The family lived at 48 Ellesmere Road.

Edward was a brewery worker in his early days.  He married Fanny Caroline (nee Gomm) and they lived at 16 Provident Place.  They had two children: Edward James and Audrey Marguerite.

The family have had more than their fair share of loss: Edward’s brother Harry was killed at Flanders in WW1 and his younger brother Frederick was a porter at Berkhamsted and killed by a train in 1948.

Edward James joined the navy in 1923 and was killed in June 1940 aboard HM Submarine Odin.  The loss of the Odin and Edward James’ presumed death was reported in the local Gazette:

Local Man In Lost Submarine.  Chief Petty Officer E.J. Biggerstaff. 

Behind the statement issued this week that the British Submarine Odin is considerably overdue and must be presumed lost is a local tragedy which will evoke the sympathy of all. 

A member of the crew of H.M. Submarine Odin was Chief Petty Officer Edward James Biggerstaff, of 112 Belswins Lane, Hemel Hempstead. A native of Berkhamsted, he was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Edward Biggerstaff of 16 Provident Place, Berkhamsted, and with them and his wife and four years-old son the sincere sympathy of their many friends in both towns will be expressed in their great loss. 

CPO Biggerstaff was 35 years of age, was educated at Berkhamsted Church of England Victoria School under the headmastership of Mr Edward Popple, and then entered the Royal Navy, in which he had served for 15 and a half years. For the past three years he had been on the China Station. 

He was remarkably keen on his work and had always been particularly interested in the submarine section of the service. His promotion to the high Warrant Officer rank of Chief Petty Officer was full assurance of the quality of his service to the Royal Navy.  His relatives were informed some little time ago that he was reported “missing”. 

HM Submarine Odin (Lieut.-Com.K.M.Woods, R.N.) was completed in May 1928 and was the prototype of the Odin class, having five sister vessels. She had an overall length of 283 feet and carried guns and torpedo tubes.

Relatives