Name
Edwin James Hammill
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/10/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35895
York and Lancaster Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TEZZE BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot 4. Row A. Grave 4.
Italy
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Harrow on the 29th September 1884, Edwin James was the son of Eugene Joseph Charles and Emma Elizabeth (née Hailes) Hammill. He was christened on 29th July 1888 at St. Peter's Church, Bushey, along with two of his siblings, Eleanor and Agnes. His parents were married on 6 October 1873 in Bushey.
At the 1891 Census, the family is living in Merry Hill Road, Bushey. Eugene is a tailor journeyman and he and Emma have seven children; Eugene Jnr., Herbert, Thomas, Sidney, Edwin James, Eleanor and Evelyn. The birthplace given for Eugene Snr. is St James, London, that for Emma in Harrow Weald and Bushey for all of the children. The ages of Eugene and Emma are 43 and 37, and those of the children are 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5 and 6 months respectively. [Note: Hammill is transcribed as Hammett in Ancestry]
In 1901, they are still living at Merry Hill Road. Eugene Snr. is now recorded as a tailor, age 54, and Emma is 46. Edwin is now 17 and employed as a carter. Three of his siblings are also present; Herbert, Eveline and now also Alice, who is 8 years old. Edwin’s birthplace is recorded here as Middlesex.
By the 1911 Census, they are living at Earle Place, Merry Hill Road, Bushey. His father is recorded as a journeyman tailor and his mother as a dressmaker. Edwin is 27 years old and employed as a general labourer for a local builder. His birth place is now given as Harrow, Middlesex. Also present are his brother Eugene, also a builder’s labourer, and his sister Alice who is employed as a general domestic servant.
Wartime Service
Edwin enlisted in Watford as Private 47190 with the Bedfordshire Regiment and was later transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment as Private 35895 in the 9th (Service) Battalion.
He was dispatched to the Provence of Treviso in Italy and on 29th October 1918 was killed in action, two days after the Allied attack during the Passage of the Piave on the north-east side of the river. This resulted in the Austrian army retreating and an Armistice coming into effect on 4 November.
Edwin is buried at Tezze British Cemetery in Italy (Plot 4, Row A. Grave 4) and is one of 356 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church.
His pension record card gives his dependant as Emma Elizabeth Hammill, of Pinner View, Merry Hill Road, Bushey.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
