Name
Ralph Edens
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/07/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
55193
Canadian Infantry
19th Bn., 1st Central Ontario Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot A, Row 4, Grave 249.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of James and Annie Maria (nee COOTE) EDENS of Watford; husband of Jean Neasham (nee HOTCHKISS) EDENS.
His parents married 20 September 1887 at St Mary’s, Willesden, London. James died 10 October 1933 in Watford aged 73, and was buried 13 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Annie died 15 September 1942 in Watford aged 80, and was buried 18 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ralph was born 14 August 1891 in Willesden. He emigrated to Canada 2 April 1914 aboard Cunard Line Ascania Southampton to Halifax: a motor engineer aged 22 of Watford, going to Moonfield, Ontario. He married 26 December 1917 at Christ Church, Watford; he was buried 12 July. Jean never remarried, and died 9 March 1977 in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, aged 87.
On the 1901 Census, aged 8 he lived in Willesden, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a cycle repairer aged 19, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 11 November 1914 at Toronto, Ontario, in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force: a motor engineer aged 23, 5’6″ tall, C of E; his next of kin was his father of Watford.
He died at No. 12 Canadian General Hospital, Bramshott, Hants, of pneumonia.
Additional Information
There are articles about Ralph in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 10 June 1916, 17 November 1917, and 20 July 1918, the latter issue includes a Death announcement; plus In Memoriams in the issue dated 12 July 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
