Pte 25725 Edward Heald

From known existing records Edward Heald was born into poverty on the 01st July 1896 in London to an unknown mother. He first appears on the register at Newington Workhouse, Southwark where he was admitted on the 21st July 1903. 

There is just a possibility he was Edward Martin Heald, born on the 18th July 1895, the son of Alfred James Heald and Alice Elizabeth (nee Thomas) of 59 Great Suffolk St, Southwark. He was baptised on the 20th September 1898 at All Saints Church, Walworth, Southwark (his father noted as deceased).  

His father, Alfred, a newspaper agent, died leaving a wife and five children. They were then frequently admitted and discharged from the Newington Workhouse.

On the 1901 census at 203 Stanhope Buildings the family have split up leaving Alice Crawford(?), married aged 37, and her son Edward Martin aged 5.  

On the 1911 census he is found on the training ship “Exmouth” based at Grays on the River Thames, he was just 14 years of age. The training ship was used by the British Navy to train boys for naval service and seamanship. Often the boys were from poor backgrounds and the training ships used as a way of avoiding the workhouse. 

In the Exmouth record book he entered on the 07th April 1909, born 01.7.1896, was just 4’ 5”, weighing 70lbs with a 27” chest. For the next 3 years his general conduct was “V.G.” and he acquired proficiency in Gunnery (2nd class), Signalling and Gymnastics, also learning to swim. When he was discharged on the 23rd January 1912 his physical attributes had improved, he was nearly 5’ tall, weighed 7st 6lbs and had a 33” chest. Most importantly his training enabled him to take up the position of bugler/steward aboard the Pacific Line SS “Ortega” in Liverpool. 

By 1913 crew records find him aged 19 aboard the White Star Liner RMS “Cedric”, his address 102 Falkner Street, Liverpool. There is every chance he may have been involved in the repatriation of the surviving crew of the Titanic back to Liverpool in 1912. 

The Falkner Street address was that of Mrs Ada Hughes, whose daughter Maud was to become Edward’s fiancée. Maud was born 12th September 1897 and she was baptised on the 26th at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. 

On the 1911 Census at 102 Falkner Street, Toxteth are head James Hughes aged 55, a mariner, his wife Ada, aged 43. They had been  married for 22 years, and had 8 children, 7 of whom have survived. They have six children in the household, all born in Liverpool:  Elizabeth Frances 18, John James 15, Maud 13, Winifred 11, Margaret 8, Amy 6

Edward enlisted on the 16th December 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23948. He gave his age as 19 years 5 months and his occupation as a waiter. He was described as being 5’ 3” tall, had a 35” chest and stated his religion as Church of England. He had no relatives at all but gave his “next of kin” as Mrs Ada Hughes, 102 Falkner Street, Liverpool. 

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.  

11-12.4.15 - Absent, loss of 2 days pay 

17-18.4.15 - Absent, loss of 2 days pay 

23.5.15 - Discharged, services no longer required 

He re-enlisted and his second set of service papers have survived:- 

On mobilization he re-attested on the 09th March 1917 at the K.L.R. depot at Seaforth, becoming Private 77235, of the 22nd Labour Company. He was now aged 20 years 270 days, born in London, Middlesex and occupation steward, 5’ 3½” tall, weight 123lbs, and 35” chest. 

One week later he was with the BEF sailing from Folkestone on the 21st March 1917 for Boulogne. Whilst in Calais on the 14th April he was absent from a sick parade and given 3 days “C.C”.  

At the depot he was transferred to the Labour Corps as Pte 51794 and appointed Lance Corporal on the 29th August “pending board”. 

His final move was on the 29th September 1917 when he was transferred to the 9th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) as Pte 25725. 

Edward was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 during the first day of the German Spring Offensive, but some records declare his date of death to be the 23rd March. 

9th Battalion West Riding War Diary:- 

March 1918 

12-16th – Bettencourt. 

17th - London Trench. 

20th - Weather fine and bright, little activity. 

21st - Great enemy bombardment commenced along the whole front at 4:15. Great quantities of gas shells used, gas masks worn by all ranks for five hours. At 8:30 p.m. the coys at Yorkshire SLAG HEAP moved forward through past enemy barrage and took up defending position at GERMAN STREET and LONDON TRENCH. The two coys in LONDON TRENCH were moved forward and took up positions in LOCK TRENCH and at 10:30 a.m. HUGHES TRENCH was heavily bombarded by T.M.[trench mortars] and entered by the enemy on a front of 200 yards. 

At 12:00 noon LONDON TRENCH was again heavily shelled by H.E. and gas. At 4pm owing to the weakness of HUNT two platoons from A Coy in LOCH TRENCH had to be moved forward to reinforce the front line which was now CAREY T. During the evening the enemy made a further attack on our platoons in CAREY TRENCH but were repulsed by our rifle and L.G. fire. 

22nd - Owing to the enemy having driven back Divisions on our flanks we received orders to move back at 1:00 a.m. to CITY TRENCH and defences of HAVERINGCOURT leaving two Coys under MAJ. WILKES of HUMBLE to act as outpost line in JERMYN STREET and LONDON TRENCH. At 10 a.m. enemy made repeated attacks on our bombing step in LONDON TRENCH; each time he was driven back without making any headway leaving many dead in the trench. At 4 p.m. information was received that the 50th Brigade on our left had withdrawn leaving our left flank in the air, but outpost line was therefore compelled to withdraw to CLARGES AVENUE and KNIGHTSBRIDGE. At 6 p.m. information was received from HUMBLE that they were being heavily attacked. A great concentration of fire was directed against the oncoming enemy by our rifles and L.G's and the enemy’s attack was successfully broken up without reaching our line. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 03rd May 1918: 

LIVERPOOL’S FALLEN HEROES. 

Pte. Edward Heald, West Riding Regt., aged 21, fiancé of Miss Maud Hughes, 102 Falkner Street, Liverpool, was killed in action on March 22, 1918. He was formally of the Pals K.L.R. Before joining up he was employed by the Elder Dempster Shipping Co., Water Street, Liverpool. 

Edward's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial at Panel 6.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Post war in 1919 the Relatives Declaration form is blank apart from a hand-written note:- 

“Mrs Ada Hughes is the foster mother to this lad, having had him from quite a child. She is the only interested person alive to our knowledge and was somewhat dependent on him. The relationship is that of Mother and Child in practice, but not in blood. A large amount of money is owing Mrs Hughes from Army”. 

The claim “she had him from quite a child” was an obvious embellishment to swing the monies in her direction but this plea was ignored and his Soldiers Effects, Army Pay and War Gratuity was unissued. Similarly his British War & Victory medals were retained as Mrs Hughes “had no claim to the soldier’s Estate.” 

His fiancée Maud, then aged 23, married 21 year old tram-owner Robert Lancaster on the 21st June 1921 at St Bride's Church, Liverpool, their address 102 Falkner Street. They had moved to Bolton by the time of the 1921 Census. 

Maud, Lancaster, 1898, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Bolton, Bolton, Lancashire,  

Robert, Lancaster, 1900, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Bolton, Bolton, Lancashire.

His CWGC entry shows: Foster son of Mrs. Ada Hughes, of 102, Falkner St., Grove St., Liverpool. 

“Foster mother” Ada stays on the Electoral Roll at Falkner Street until 1929-30 when daughter Maud Lancaster joins her. No further details are held.  

Edward is commemorated on the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Pan.el 57

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