Pte Edgar Clifford Welham

Edgar was born in 1898 in Brentwood, the son of a coachman.

At least one of his brothers, Percy, joined the army during the first world war and was killed.

Edgar was in the 2/4th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, but due to missing army service records we can't say when he signed up. All we know is he was killed on 29th July 1918. For several days before this, the 2/4th had been stationed on the front line, receiving artillery fire and gas attacks from the enemy.

At 4:10am Edgar and his men would have gone over the top supported by the Royal Sussex Regiment on the right flank and French troops on the left. Attacking near Grand Rosoy. Unfortinately allied troops had not been able to destroy a German emplacement at Beugneux and Edgar would have come under heavy fire from the flank and his battalion were forced to withdraw. That night they came under heavy shelling.

Either during the battle or during the shelling that night, Edgar was killed. He is remembered on the Soissons Memorial, and does not seem to have a known grave. He is also remembered on the Brentwood war memorial.