Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
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

2nd Lieutenant Edgar Samuel Veevers

Age: 22
From: Great Crosby, Liverpool
Regiment: Kings Own RLR
Died on Wednesday 10th July 1918
Commemorated at: Houchin Bc
Panel Ref: II.D.8

Edgar Samuel was born in the June quarter of 1896 in Great Crosby. He was the second youngest of five children of Samuel Veevers and his wife Florence Mary (nee Barrell) of Blundellsands.

His father was from Bootle, and his mother was born in Gloucester. They married in 1889, and had five children, all born in Great Crosby, Edgar had two brothers Norman Barrell and John Noel and two sisters Edna Florence and Doris Elizabeth.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 'Normanton', Francis Road, Blundellsands, with five children, a mother’s help, and a domestic servant. His father is a cotton broker, working on his own account, Edgar is 4.

Edgar was educated at Merchant Taylors' School from 01st May 1905 having originally been taught in the preparatory department of Merchant Taylor's Girls School. He completed his education at Merchant Taylor's on 11th May 1911.

The 1911 census finds the family at 14 Eshe Road North, Blundellsands, with five children at home and a domestic servant. His father is 57, a cotton broker, his mother is 48. Norman, 20, and John, 19, are cotton salesmen, Edna, 18, has no occupation, and Edgar, 14, and Doris, 13, are at school. They have a visitor, Doris Mabel Chance, 20, from Hereford.

Edgar Samuel joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24982. He crossed to France on 22nd December 1915. A few short weeks later, his father died, on 11th February 1916. (Probate showing effects of £1,000, gives his address as 69 Merton Road, Bootle, possibly his business premises.)

Edgar was gazetted as Second Lieutenant with effect from 30th May 1917 transferring to 1/4th King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).

In 1917 the 1/4th K.O.R.L. saw action at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31st July, the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres, also called Passchendaele, then at the Menin Road Ridge on 20th September. After the Battle of Cambrai in November they moved to the Somme and were involved in the attack near Guillemont Farm on 20th November, and on 30th November in the repulse of the counter attack near Epéhy.

In March and April 1918 they retreated during the Spring Offensive; from 09th to 11th April the Battle of Estaires, first defense of Givenchy, and on 26th April the counter attack on Givenchy Craters.

He was killed in action by a sniper in Piccadilly, Givenchy sector on 10th July 1918 aged 22. At the time of his death Edgar was attached to the 164 Trench Mortar Battery.

He now rests at Houchin British Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE WILL GIVE BACK THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE".

The cemetery was opened in March 1918 when the 6th Casualty Clearing Station came to Houchin. From April to September the German advance made Houchin unsafe for hospitals, and the cemetery was used by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. In September 1918, the 6th Casualty Clearing Station returned to Houchin and was joined by the 15th CCS in October. Houchin British Cemetery contains 700 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and two from the Second World War. There are also 39 German and one Belgian war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was announced in the Liverpool Daily Post on 16th July 1918:

“Second-Lieutenant Edgar S. Veevers, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action while discharging his duty in the front line trenches on July 10th, aged twenty-two years. He was the youngest son of Mrs. Veevers, St. Michael’s Hamlet, and the late Mr. Samuel Veevers, of Blundellsands. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, and Blundellsand House School. The young officer, soon after the outbreak of war, enlisted in one of the Comrades’ battalions K.L.R. and was subsequently wounded in France, where he served many months as a very gallant officer. His captain has testified to his heroic bravery in the struggle at Givenchy during April last, describing him as “a true officer and a gentleman in every sense of the word”. His cheery and unselfish character won for him the affection and admiration of his fellow-officers and men.”

Edgar earned his three medals, which were returned and reissued.

His Army effects of over £100 and a War Gratuity of £13 went to his mother. Probate, giving Edgar’s address as 14 St. Michael’s Road, was granted to his mother in the amount of £168-14s-2d,

His mother is found on electoral rolls in St. Michael’s Road until 1936, and the 1939 register finds her, now 77, at 67 Myers Road East, Crosby, with Norman, 49, Edna, 46, and Doris, 42.

His brother Norman served as a Private in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Labour Corps.

His mother died in late 1944 at the age of 81.

Edgar is remembered on the following Memorials:

St Michaels in the Hamlet Church

Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby

K.O.R.L. Casket, Lancaster

Great Crosby and Blundellsands Memorial

St. Luke’s Church, Great Crosby, Roll of Honour and Font

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 35.

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

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