Serjeant 16553 Edward Strettle

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 12th KLR
• Died on Sunday 17th February 1918
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cemetery Ext
  Panel Ref: P.VI.K.6B

Edward was born in Liverpool in the fourth quarter of 1888, the son of William Strettle and his wife Mary Jane (nee Madren) who married in Liverpool in 1883. He was the 3rd of 7 children born to the couple. His siblings were; Esther, Flossie, William, Charles, Albert and Lilian who sadly died aged 1.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 30 Geraint Street, Liverpool. His father, William, is a 32 year old bricklayer by trade, born in Whiston, his mother, Mary J. is 29 years of age and was born in Liverpool. They have four children in the household; Esther is 6, William 4, Edward 2 and new born Lillian.    .

In 1901 the family are living at the same address. Both parents are in the household and live with their 6 children. Esther is now 16, William is 14 and an office boy, Edward is 12, Charles E. is 8, Albert is 6 and Florence G. is not yet one. Also present is Mary's sister, Alice, who is a 29 year old confectioner's assistant.  

By 1911 the family have moved to 22 Claribel Street, Liverpool. Both parents are present, they advise that they have been married for 27 years and have had seven children, one of whom has died. Edward, who is 22 years old is described as a Bricklayer, he has five siblings in the household; Esther is 26, William is a 24 year old clerk, Charles Ernset is 18 and a clerk, Albert is 16 and is also a clerk, Florence Gertrude is 10. Also present is William Madren, an 84 year old widower, who is the grandfather of the children. 

Edward enlisted at the first opportunity on 31st August 1914 when joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16553. He advised that he was 25 years and 11 months old. His occupation is shown as a Bricklayer  and it is noted that he served an apprenticeship in his father's business which expired in 1908. He is described as being 5 foot  6 and a half inches tall, weighed 119lbs and had grey eyes and brown hair.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

Edward was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 07th November 1914. He then reverted to the ranks on 29th January1915 before a second promotion to Lance Corporal on 28th June 1915. He was then further promoted to Corporal on 18th September 1915 prior to the battalion leaving England in November 1915.

Edward was hospitalised with Cellulitis in April 1917. He was subsequently promoted to Serjeant on 31st July 1917 the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele.

He then transferred to the 12th Bn of the Kings Liverpool Regiment. 

He died of wounds aged 29 in St Louis' Hospital at Rouen on 17th February 1918. The wounds were reported to have been received in action on 30th November 1917.

Edward now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His next of kin, his father, William Strettle of 22 Claribel Street, Liverpool received his personal effects which amongst other things contained the Queen Mary Christmas Box of 1914 which must have been treasured by Edward. 

His family paid tribute in the Liverpool Echo on 20th February 1918:  

His brother William served in France with the RGA and survived the War.

A further sadness for the family to endure occurred during the Second World War during the Liverpool Blitz in November 1940 when Edward's brother Albert died along with his wife Olga and her sister Gertrude when their house in Mossley Hill Road took a direct hit. 

Edward's father died in 1935 aged 77 whilst his mother died  in 1943 aged 81.

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