Name
Edward Coleman
1867
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/05/1917
49
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/3892
Royal Marine Light Infantry
R.N. Depot (Deal)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ELTHAM (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST) CHURCHYARD
3. C. 61.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
Edward Coleman was born in 1867 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of George and Fanny Coleman, and baptised on 20 September 1867 in Hemel Hempstead.
His father died, age 42, in 1870 and on the 1871 Census the family were living at Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead, where his widowed mother was working as a Straw Plaiter. His 13 year old brother Henry was working as a brick maker. They remained in Chapel Street in 1881 and although his 3 older siblings were working, Edward and his younger brother Charles were both scholars.
In September 1888 he enlisted in the Royal Navy and in 1901 he was listed as Pte, RMLI, a member of the crew of HMS Proserpine, a Cruiser 3rd Class, at Bermuda.
He married Alice Grosse Wilkins in 1906 at Woolwich and they had two children, Ivy Alice born 1907 and Daisy Fanny born 1909.
On the 1911 Census they were living at 107 Craigton Road, Eltham, Kent, and Edward was working as a Furniture Porter. but 4 year old daughter Ivy was at Brook Fever Hospital, Shooters Hill Road, Kidbrooke, Old Charlton, Kent. [N.B. she survived whatever she was suffering from and died in 1993].
They later lived at 36 Martin Bowes Road, Well Hall, Eltham, London SE9.
Wartime Service
He was probably recalled to the Royal Marine Light Infantry at the outbreak of war and served at the Royal Marine Depot in Deal.
He died at Deal Infirmary on 13 May 1917 of Cystitis, Uraemia and stricture of urethra, and is buried in the graveyard of St John the Baptist, Eltham, Greenwich, London.
Additional Information
His widow received a pension of 15 shillings a week, later rising to £5s 5d in 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org.
