Name
Edwin John Mason
31/01/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
13754
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, GRENAY
I. Q. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt, St Clemence Church Memorial, Turnford
Pre War
Edwin John Mason was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on 31st January 1887, son of Henry William Mason a, Painter & Glazier, and Harriet (Roles) Mason. One of fifteen Children. Harriet was Henry’s second wife who he married in late 1882. He had five children with his first wife Emily Hardwick who died in the early part of 1882, and ten children with his second wife Harriet.
Edwin was Baptised on 13th March 1887, in Cheshunt, Herts.
1891 Census records Edwin aged 4, living with his parents, two half-sisters, four sisters and half-brother William (19) at, Cromwell Cottages, 8 High Street, Cheshunt, Herts.
1901 Census Edwin (14), has left school and working as a Draper’s Errand Boy, living with his parents, three sisters and five brothers at, 128 High Street, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census, Edwin (27), is recorded as Edward, Boarding with Widow Ellen Woodard and her family at 3 Melrose Cottages, Flampstead End, Cheshunt, Herts. He is working as a Gardener. His parents and six siblings are still living at, 128 High Street, Cheshunt.
Edwin married Grace Caroline Wood the daughter of Edward and Emily Wood of Wandsworth, London, at Saint James Church, Enfield Highway, Middx, on 27th August 1911. They went on to have three children, Walter Edwin born 1912, Grace Olive born 1913 and Violet Ruth born 1915.
Wartime Service
Edwin enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 13754.
In August 1915 the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment were at Chobham Common, Surrey, carrying out trench warfare training when they were mobilized for war, they arrived in France on 30th August 1915, seeing action on the Western Front.
Edwin was Killed in Action on the 5th April 1917, aged 30. He is buried in the Marco British Cemetery, Grenay, France.
At the beginning of April, the 8th Battalion were in the Loos-en-Gohelle area of France.
Battalion War Diary for the 5th April 1917:
5th April 1917 – In trenches enemy action normal, machine gun active at night. Enemy used gas shell. Casualties 2 O.R. Killed and 3 O.R Wounded.
Additional Information
Grace received a widow’s pension of 27/6 a week from 22nd October 1917, and his war gratuity of £12-10-00.
Depending on the document or record Edwin is recorded as holding the following ranks, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Lance Sergent and Sergeant. The CWGC record him as Lance Corporal.
St Clements Church Memorial, Turnford, record him as Edward.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
