Pte 22225 Edward Christopher Pyper

• Age: 19
• From: Durban, South Africa
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 17th February 1916
• Commemorated at: Chipilly Cc
  Panel Ref: A.12

A Peyper/Pyper  family genealogy found online states that Edward was born Christoffel Everhardus Pyper on the 12th February 1896 in Douglas, Northern Cape, South Africa. He was the son of Petrus Jacobus Pyper, also known as Peter James, and Jacoba Anna H[endricka (née Sloet), also known as Jane Ann, and who was a Dutch baroness through her father who had emigrated to the Cape. She was baptised Jacoba. I think I have seen one other reference to her being referred to as Johanna. But mostly it is Jacoba - i.e. Jane when anglicised. Both his parents were born in Northern Cape, his father in Sutherland in 1871 and his mother in 1877 in Calvinia. They were married on the 21st May 1895 in Ceres, Western Cape, his father, aged 24,  and his mother just 17 . They had four children, Edward the eldest. The others were Arnold, who was born in 1897, but died when only one year and five months old; Petrus Jacobus (Peter James), born in 1899, and  Elizabeth, born 1901. Peter went on to become the Assistant Director of Army Postal Services for the East Africa Command during World War II.  

Edward was baptised on the 05th April 1896 in Ceres. 

Edward has not been found on crew lists; it is not known at what age he left home. However, there are records for an E Pyper born 1889 on the Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists in 1912 headed for New South Wales and also in 1913 on the United States, Passenger And Crew Lists headed for the Americas. 

He enlisted in Liverpool on 10^th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22225. He gave his name as Edward Christopher Pyper, He was 18 and 8 months when he enlisted, however, his age was recorded as 20 years and 9 months, which was obviously an untruth given his real age was 18. He gave his occupation as sailor, which might explain why he was in Liverpool and gave his next of kin as his mother, whom he called Johanna,  of 38 Searle Street, De Beers, Kimberley, and his father, Peter J. via the Post Office, Durban. He was described as being 5’ 10” tall, and weighing 171 lbs, with a 40” chest (which may explain why he was able to pass himself off as 20 years old). He had a sallow complexion, brown eyes, and light brown hair, with tattoos on both arms.  He gave his religion as C. of E. and stated he had lived out of his father’s house for at least three years. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

While training he showed himself to be somewhat of a rebel - he was in trouble on 3 occasions in 1915 for being absent without leave and twice for failing to obey a lawful order.

Edward served in France from 07^th November 1915 and earned all 3 medals but on 17^th February 1916, he died of wounds received when a “Jack Johnson” shell burst and wounded him below his collar bone.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 04 March 1916:   

Writing to his sister in Melling, Private E. Sharrock of the 4th City Pals relates how his chum was killed at his side. He states:- “He had a very narrow shave the other day. Just after dinner my pal and I were alone in the tent talking about the war when all of a sudden a “Jack Johnson” burst 10 yards away in our horse lines. A piece of shrapnel from the shell came through the tent, which caught my pal just below the collar bone, and I am sorry to say it killed him. His name is Edward Pyper, and how it missed me I cannot say, because I was right by the poor lad’s side, and when the shrapnel hit him he said “Ernie, I am wounded.” I have got his badge for a keepsake, we are in a very hot part of the line.” [Note: Sharrock was discharged on the 22nd May 1918 with the SWB.] 

He died in 98 Field Ambulance and he now rests at Chipilly Communal Cemetery, Grave A 12.

His headstone bears the epitaph: 

“THERE IS A LINK DEATH CANNOT SEVER, LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LIVE FOREVER”.

The village of Chipilly was used by field ambulances in 1916. It was captured by the Germans in March 1918 and retaken in August, after a severe struggle, by the 58th (London) Division. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains a Commonwealth plot, begun in August 1915 and used until March 1916. A further burial was added to Row A in April 1918. The communal cemetery now contains 55 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. There are also four French war graves within the plot. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made by Commonwealth troops between March 1916 and February 1917, then used again for three burials in the summer of 1918. The extension contains 31 First World War burials.

The CWGC records show that he was 19 years old when he died of wounds on 17^th February 1916 whereas he would have been just 18.

Edward (E.C. Pyper) is commemorated on South Africa’s Roll of Honour

There are a number of civic, school, and church memorials in Durban, but it has not been possible to ascertain whether Edward’s name is recorded.  The Cenotaph in Durban, which was unveiled in 1926, honours the Durban men who fell during the war. The memorial suffered slight damage during a bombing attack in 1981 and was vandalised in 2017;  nine bronze plaques bearing the names of Durban’s fallen were stolen (but have since been recovered).

He earned his three medals. 

His Army effects, Army Pay of £6 10s 4d and a War Gratuity of £5 went to his father. 

His mother, Mrs. Jane Ann Pyper, of 66 Russell Street, Durban, was awarded a pension of 15/- a week from April 1917.

Edward’s service record notes that his father was “serving in South African (…?).

His brother P.J. Pyper, Box 913 Durban, wrote on 29/2/16 requesting to know Edward’s place of death and location of his grave.  His relatives were told the location of his grave on 09/3/16.  

His personal effects were returned to his family: 1 New Testament, 7 photos, 1 pkt letters, 1 greeting card.

In 1919 his brother Peter James, address Post Office, Lindsey, Orange Free State, provided information on Edward’s living relatives: his parents were living in Carlisle Street, Durban, and his sister (name obscured) was also in Durban. Peter married Susanna Margaretha Odenaal Preston on 21st December 1920 at Lindley, Free State, South Africa. 

After the war, when the CWGC communicated with his mother regarding his headstone, she was living at 68 Gale Street, Durban. 

His father died aged 63 on the 12th November 1934 in Durban (Probate). His mother died aged 85 on the 09th April 1963 also in Durban. 

His British War Medal was offered for auction in 2014 as part of a set of five (all Liverpool Pals), the lot asking price £80-£120.

We currently have no further information on Edward Christopher Pyper, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.