1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
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/Piper family genealogy found online states that Edward was born Arnoldus Everhardus Christoffel Jacob Pyper on 28th June 1897 in Douglas, Bo-Karoo, South Africa, about 70 miles WSW of Kimberley in Northern Cape Province. If this birthdate is accurate, it would mean that Edward was 17 years old when he enlisted, and 18 when he died (i.e., in his 19th year). He was the son of Petrus Jacobus Pyper, also known as Peter James, and Johanna (or Jacoba) Hendricka (née Sloet van Lindenhorst), also known as Jane Ann. Both his parents were born in Northern Cape, his father in Sutherland in 1871 and his mother in 1877 in Calvinia. They married in 1895 and had two sons. Edward had a younger brother Petrus Jacobus (Peter James) born in 1899. His service record notes the name Elizabeth, possibly a sister, but the online genealogy makes no reference to a daughter.
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 10th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22225. He gave his name as Edward Christopher Pyper and gave his age as 20 years 9 months, which was obviously an untruth given his real age was 17. He gave his occupation as sailor, which might explain why he was in Liverpool and gave his next of kin as his mother, Johanna, of 38 Searle Street, De Beers, Kimberley, and his father, Peter J. via the Post Office, Durban. He is 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 has a sallow complexion, brown eyes, and light brown hair, with tattoos on both arms. He gives his religion as C of E and states he has lived out of his father’s house for at least three years.
Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th 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 07th November 1915 and earned all 3 medals but on 17th February 1916 died of wounds received when a “Jack Johnson” shell burst and wounded him below his collar bone. 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 CWGC records show that he was 19 years old when he died of wounds on 17th 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).
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.
His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £5 went to his father.
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 Decemebr 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.
According to the online genealogy, his father died in Sutherland, Northern Cape, in 1934 and his mother in Durban in 1963.
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.
Killed On This Day.
(106 Years this day)Wednesday 17th April 1918.
Pte 235259 John Thomas
40 years old
(106 Years this day)
Wednesday 17th April 1918.
Private Edward Bellion
22 years old