Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

William Cyril George Edmonds (1072)

01/12/1897 –26/02/1945

A policeman, wounded during WWI and killed by V2 rocket in WWII

Relatives

Harriet Edmonds — mother

George Edmonds — father

Ethel Maud Edmonds — wife

Sergeant Leslie George Bert Edmonds — son

• Jane Dickson
• Melanie Hilton

PLOT 1072 William Cyril George EDMONDS

William Cyril George Edmonds was born on 1^st December 1897, the only child of George Edmonds and Harriet Eliza née Quick, of 33 Alexandra Road, St Albans. He was baptised at St Peter’s, St Albans on 26^th December that year. His father George worked as a Domestic Coachman and, by 1901, the family had moved to Hollies Cottages, 42 Puller Road, Boxmoor. By 1910, they had moved again, to 28 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted. His father was still a Coachman in 1911 but, by 1915, a further move took them to the Conservative Club (sometimes recorded as the Unionist Club), 111 High Street Berkhamsted, where his father worked as Club Steward.

William served in the First World War. ⁽¹⁾ On 27^th July 1915, while working as a Clerk, he attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Watford, to serve for the duration of the War. He joined at Woolwich the following day and undertook his initial training in 4A Reserve Brigade RFA at the Woolwich Depot. He was 6 feet tall with a 34-inch chest and his Enlistment Report gives his “apparent age” as 19, though 17 years 8 months would have been nearer the truth. No doubt his height, unusual for a young man at that time, helped him get in.

On 8^th October 1915, he was posted to the 12^th Reserve Battery at Woolwich and, ten days later, to the British Expeditionary Force in France, serving as a Gunner, Service No 103523 in 112 Battery from 23^rd October. Details of the remainder of his service cannot be discerned from his damaged “Burnt Documents” service record, until his posting to the 14^th Brigade on 28^th September 1917. However, his record makes clear that he was with the Expeditionary Force in France “1915-16-17-18”.

On 4^th July 1918, William suffered a gunshot wound to his right knee. This was categorised IX (1) – in other words, a wound to a lower limb, which had not caused a fracture. At that time, the 14^th Brigade was serving with the 3^rd Australian Division, so it is likely that Willliam suffered this injury at the Battle of Le Hamel, Somme. ^(2&3) He was admitted to the General Hospital in Rouen two days later and transported to England aboard HMHS Western Australia on 13^th July.

The Watford Observer of Saturday 20^th July 1918 recorded that “Gunner W Edmonds, of Berkhamsted, has been wounded after two years and eight months service on the Western Front. He is the son of Mr George Edmonds, of the Conservative Club, Berkhamsted, who has himself been serving in India for two and a half years.”

On his return to England. William spent a month in the Metropolitan Hospital, London N1, followed by two months at the Mitchie Hospital, Queen’s Gate. On 27^th November 1918, a fortnight after the Armistice, he was transferred to the Royal Artillery Tank Corps Command Depot at Catterick.

On 28^th January 1919, William was demobilised at Woolwich and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve. There is a note on his Service Record dated 26^th September 1919: “Metropolitan Police ask character”, so it is likely that he joined the Metropolitan Police during 1919.

William, his father and his uncles Thomas and Harry Edmonds all served in the First World War and are listed on Studham’s Roll of Honour. ⁽⁴⁾ His father George, who was nearly 45 at the outbreak of war, served in the Bedfordshire Regiment, probably the 1^st Garrison Battalion, which was sent to India in February 1916. ⁽⁵⁾ His Uncle Thomas served in 228 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery and also survived the war. His youngest uncle, Harry, served in the 4^th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and died aged 27 on 28^th May 1915, as the result of wounds received at St Eloi during the 2^nd Battle of Ypres. He is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.

William is recorded with his parents at 111 High Street, Berkhamsted in the 1919 Electoral Register but, by 1921, a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police, he was based and living at the Police Station, 29 Upper Market Street, Woolwich, SE18.

During his time in Berkhamsted, William had met Ethel Maud Chapman, daughter of William and Eliza Chapman of 3 Station Road. As a young woman, Ethel worked at Corby, Palmer and Stewart, the Ladies Mantle Factory in Lower King’s Road. By 1921, then aged 22, she had become an Overlooker (Supervisor).

William and Ethel married at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on 29^th September 1923. They lived in Woolwich, where their only child Leslie George Bert was born on 2^nd June 1925. By 1929 their address was 158 Maxey Road, Plumstead, SE18. The 1939 Register, collated in September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, shows William, a Metropolitan Police Officer, still resident at158 Maxey Road, while Ethel and Leslie were with Ethel’s parents at 3 Station Road, Berkhamsted.14-year-old Leslie was still at school when war broke out but in 1943 he volunteered for the RAF, reaching the rank of Sergeant and training as an Air Gunner. ⁽⁶⁾

By February 1945, William and Ethel had moved to 44 Duncroft, Plumstead. On the 26^thFebruary at 9.10am, William, aged 47, Ethel, 46 and Leslie, 19, were all killed by a V2 rocket which fell directly on their house, killing 13 people and injuring 87. A record of civilian casualties ⁽⁷⁾ lists William “Constable, Metropolitan Police; of 44 Duncroft. Son of Mr. W. G. Edmonds, of 10 Church Road, Studham, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Husband of Ethel Maud E. Edmonds. Died at 44 Duncroft.”  Ethel is recorded: “of 44 Duncroft. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Chapman, of 3 Station Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire; Wife of William Cyril George Edmonds. Died at 44 Duncroft. Leslie, serving in the RAF (VR), is recorded as a military casualty. ⁽⁶⁾

The funeral of William, Ethel and Leslie was conducted by the Revd. W C Stainsby at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on 3^rd March 1945. William and Ethel are buried together in this large plot, together with Leslie and with Ethel’s parents Eliza and William Chapman. The plot is marked with a headstone and kerb.

The headstone is inscribed “In/ loving memory of/ Eliza Chapman/ Died Feb 18^th1946 aged 87 years/ Also of/ William Chapman/ Died Jan 13^th1948/ Aged 85 years/ Until the dawn of eternity.”

On the kerb is inscribed: “Also William George Edmonds aged 47/ Ethel Maud beloved wife aged 46 and Leslie Sgt RAF son aged 19/ These three killed by enemy action Feb 26 1945”. Leslie also has a Commonwealth War Graves headstone set within the plot.

William and Ethel are also recorded by the CWGC as civilian casualties of the Second World War, commemorated in Woolwich Metropolitan Borough. ⁽⁸⁾

References

(1) UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920. William Edmonds

(2) Allocations of RFA Army Brigades to higher formations – The Long, Long Trail

(3) Webmatters: Le Hamel: The battle of 4th July 1918

(4) Hosted By Bedford Borough Council: Studham Men in the Great War

(5) Bedfordshire Regiment – The Long, Long Trail

(6) Sergeant Leslie George Bert Edmonds | War Casualty Details 2932670 | CWGC

(7) V2 Civilian Casualties – WWII V2 Rocket Attacks

(8) Civilian William Cyril George Edmonds | War Casualty Details 3141795 | CWGC

Ethel Maud Edmonds

31/08/1898 –26/02/1945

Died with her husband and son when a V2 rocket fell on their house in London

Relatives

Eliza Chapman — mother

William Chapman — father

Sergeant Leslie George Bert Edmonds — son

William Cyril George Edmonds (1072) — husband

• Jane Dickson

PLOT 1072 Ethel Maud Edmonds

Ethel Maud Chapman was born in Berkhamsted on 31^st August 1898, the sixth of seven surviving children of William Chapman and Eliza (Elizabeth) née Reynolds. Her older siblings were Ernest George, born 1885; Sydney William, 1889; Arthur John, 1891; Kate Elizabeth, 1895 and Bertie, 1896. She had a younger brother, Frank, born in 1902. Records show that Eliza also had 3 children who died very young. Twins, Alice and Susan, were born in 1887; Susan died as an infant and Alice, who is also buried in this cemetery, aged 2. Leonard James, born in 1893, also died as an infant.

Ethel’s father was a Wood Sawyer born in Berkhamsted. Her mother came from Piddington in Oxfordshire. The family lived at 19 Bridge Street in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to 3 Station Road. At that time Ethel and Frank were still at school. Three of their older siblings also lived at home: Arthur, a Gardener/ Nurseryman, Kate, a fruiterer’s assistant, and Bertie, a Clerk in a Paper Mill.

22-year-old Ethel was still living at home in 1921, by then an Overlooker (Supervisor) at Corby, Palmer and Stewart, the Ladies Mantle Manufacturer in Lower King’s Road. The 1921 Census also gives additional information about the jobs of other family members. Her father, a wood sawyer, worked for Rickmansworth Boatbuilder W H Walker at Frogmore Wharf, Rickmansworth. Her brother Arthur worked as a gardener for H Lane, Nurseryman, Berkhamsted High Street while Bert and Frank were both Correspondence Clerks at John Dickinson’s Paper Mill in Apsley.

On 29^th September 1923, Ethel married William Cyril George Edmonds at St Peter’s Church, Berkhamsted. William was a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police, then based at and, in the 1921 Census living at, the Police Station, 29 Upper Market Street, Woolwich, SE18.

Ethel and William lived in Woolwich, where their only child Leslie George Bert was born on 2^nd June 1925. By 1929 they had moved to 158 Maxey Road, Plumstead, SE18. The 1939 Register, collated in September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, shows William, a Metropolitan Police Officer, still resident at158 Maxey Road, while Ethel and Leslie were with Ethel’s parents at 3 Station Road, Berkhamsted. Ethel had unpaid domestic duties while 14-year-old Leslie was still at school. In 1943, Leslie volunteered for the RAF, reaching the rank of Sergeant and training as an Air Gunner. ⁽¹⁾

By February 1945, Ethel and William had moved to 44 Duncroft, Plumstead. On the 26^thFebruary at 9.10am, Ethel, aged 46, William, 47 and Leslie, 19, were all killed by a V2 rocket which fell directly on their house, killing 13 people and injuring 87. A record of civilian casualties ⁽²⁾ lists Ethel “of 44 Duncroft. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Chapman, of 3 Station Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire; Wife of William Cyril George Edmonds. Died at 44 Duncroft.” William is recorded: “Constable, Metropolitan Police; of 44 Duncroft. Son of Mr. W. G. Edmonds, of 10 Church Road, Studham, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Husband of Ethel Maud E. Edmonds. Died at 44 Duncroft.” Leslie, serving in the RAF (VR) is recorded as a military casualty. ⁽¹⁾

The funeral of Ethel, William and Leslie was conducted by the Revd. W C Stainsby at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on 3^rd March 1945. Ethel and William are buried together in this large plot, together with Leslie and with Ethel’s parents Eliza and William Chapman. The plot is marked with a headstone and kerb.

The headstone is inscribed “In/ loving memory of/ Eliza Chapman/ Died Feb 18^th1946 aged 87 years/ Also of/ William Chapman/ Died Jan 13^th1948/ Aged 85 years/ Until the dawn of eternity.”

On the kerb is inscribed: “Also William George Edmonds aged 47/ Ethel Maud beloved wife aged 46 and Leslie Sgt RAF son aged 19/ These three killed by enemy action Feb 26 1945”. Leslie also has a Commonwealth War Graves headstone set within the plot.

Ethel and William are also recorded by the CWGC as civilian casualties of the Second World War, commemorated in Woolwich Metropolitan Borough. ⁽³⁾

References

(1) Sergeant Leslie George Bert Edmonds | War Casualty Details 2932670 | CWGC

(2) V2 Civilian Casualties – WWII V2 Rocket Attacks

(3) Civilian Ethel Maud Edmonds | War Casualty Details 3141794 | CWGC