Bromley War Memorial

Parents: Charles & Sophia Margaret Hurlbatt (nee Smith)
Parents' occupation: Assistant to a firm of mining engineers
Siblings: Evelyn, Kate, Ethel, Amy, Charles, Maud, Douglas Gray

Census information

1891
Address: Arno Lodge, 1 & 2 Clarence Road, Bickley
1911
Address: 4 York Place, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester
Occupation: Mechanical & electrical enquiries

Extra details

Edgar was the 7th of Charles and Sophia Margaret's eight children. He was educated at Amesbury School (1885-1888) prior to going to Dulwich (1888-1894) where he played for the Cricket First XI. He passed the Matriculation Examination of the University of London in January 1895.

On completion of his education in February 1895 he was apprenticed to Bate Ship Building and Dry Docks Company Ltd., Cardiff. After two years he went to Mercantile Pontoon Company Ltd., also in Cardiff, to widen his experience of engineering practice. At the end of his practical training, in 1897 he entered the service of Messrs. Dick, Kerr & Co. Ltd., of Preston where he remained for 17 years. He travelled extensively with them including visits to Spain and India. At the outbreak of war he was their manager at the Manchester Branch.

On 1st December 1914 he was given a Commission in the Territorial Force and posted to The Manchester Regiment. He joined them at Manchester where he was put through a course of military training. He was awarded a First Class Certificate in Musketry in February 1915. On 19th March he was appointed Brigade Musketry Officer. In May he attended a course at the School of Instruction, Chelsea Barracks and, in June, the machine gun course at Bisley.
In August his Battalion was employed in the construction of the London Defence Works at Burham, Kent where he received a commendation for his works. He was then selected to attend the Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, for a Special Course in military subjects. He re-joined his Battalion, in Colchester, on 1st November and was given the rank of Major. They were employed in the defence of the East Coast.
He was sent in May 1916 to the Royal Army Medical Corps College for a course in anti-gas protection. During this course he paid a short visit to the Western Front (May 12-15). On his return he was appointed Anti-Gas Instructor to his Brigade. He was promoted Lieutenant in June 1916.

Edgar's Division was sent to France in early 1917. He was promoted Captain on 4th August. For his distinguished and gallant service in the Field he was mentioned in dispatches by Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig: -
" His skill, hard work, and utter disregard of danger have been most marked. His personal example, devotion to duty, and skilful handling of his company have brought it to a high state of efficiency. He organised with great ability difficult parts of the trench line, notably west of Vermelles, in April, 1917, and south of Lombartzyde in July, 1917."
For this he received the Military Cross.

On 25th September he was given temporary command of 2/8th (Ardwick) Battalion of his Regiment and promoted Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. He was in the second Passchendaele fight in October, 1917, and was mentioned in despatches again. In December he was for a short time acting Brigadier-General of the 199th Brigade and in February 1918, he was appointed to the command of the 66th Divisional School of Instruction, but the following month he re-joined his battalion and at once was in the thick of the fighting in the second battle of the Somme.

On the afternoon of 27th March, 1918, he headed an attack and rushed the village of Vanvillers—the village was taken, but the Germans counter¬attacked shortly afterwards with much superior numbers, Edgar was shot through the head, being killed instantaneously.

Thank you to Dulwich College for their assistance.

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