LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Edward George Ireland
Royal Army Medical Corps
attd. 5th Reserve Park Army Service Corps
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
Pte
Edward G Ireland
Royal Army Medical Corps
St Omer
Jan 22 1915
The May 1915 issue of the Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas,
the Parish Church of Leatherhead, gives two small items of information:
Pte Ireland's full Christian names were Edward George.
He is stated to have died in hospital in St Omer. (1)
Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead, May 1915
issue (courtesy of Mr L. Anstee of the Parish).
Stop press
Soldiers who Died in the Great War - RAMC: Imperial War Museum
gives:
Edward George Ireland: No.5708: Private RAMC
Born: Leatherhead: Died 22.1.15: Enlisted Kingston upon Thames
Further research
Private
IRELAND, EDWARD GEORGE
Service Number 5708
Died 22/01/1915
Aged 22
Royal Army Medical Corps
attd. 5th Reserve Park
Army Service Corps
Son of Jacob and Alice Ireland, of 25, Kingslea, Leatherhead, Surrey.
INSCRIPTION
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN HE WHO GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER
Buried at LONGUENESSE
(ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY
Location: Pas de Calais, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. A. 33.
Edward died of septic
poisoning at No. 10 Station Hospital, St Omer, when attached to
the 5th Reserve Park Army Service Corps.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 January 1915
The announcement was received on
Thursday that Edward Ireland, of the R.A.M.C., whose parents reside at
King’s Lea, Leatherhead, had died in hospital at St. Omer on January 23rd,
from septic poisoning.
Leatherhead Parish Magazine,
February 1915
In his February letter the Vicar
wrote "The War had lasted for five months before it caused a permanent
break in one of the many home circles of Letherhead from which sons had
gone forth at their country's call. And then almost at once we learnt of
the death of three of them, while on active service. All will feel the
deepest sympathy with the parents of Albert Bennett, Edward Ireland and
Victor Wright, who have given their lives in the cause of Right and
Freedom, for the safety and honour of their native land.
Dec 18 1914 Albert Bennett,
2nd Queen's W Surrey, killed in action in Flanders
Jan 1 1915 Victor Wright
RMLI, sank with HMS Formidable
Jan 23 1915 Edward George Ireland, RAMC, died in Hospital, St Omer
His life
Edward Ireland was born in Fetcham in 1892 and baptised on 24 April that
year at St Mary's, Fetcham, Surrey. He became a Groom.
His father was Jacob Ireland, born 18 May 1868 in Ewhurst, Sussex, a son
of Edward Ireland (1819-1874), a Plate Layer with the London, Brighton and
South Coast Railway, from Rudgwick, Sussex and Mary Hoare (1824-1909) from
Rudgwick, Sussex.
His mother was Alice Lillywhite, born about 1860 at Wisborough Green,
Surrey, a daughter of George Lillywhite (1836-1912), a Carpenter born at
Wisborough Green, Surrey, and Harriett Strudwick (1843-1923) also from
Wisborough Green, Surrey.
Jacob and Alice were married on 18 May 1891 at St Peter and St Paul,
Ewhurst, Surrey.
Edward's siblings were: Florence Lily b 1894 and Violet May b 1898.
He lived at:
Cobham Road, Fetcham (his father Jacob's
abode in the 1893 Electoral Register)
Barnett Wood Lane Cottages, Leatherhead,
Surrey (1901 Census, in which his name was recorded as Edmund G Ireland)
25 Kingslea, Kingston Road Leatherhead, Surrey (1911 Census)
Edward had not married.
After WW1
Edward's mother died on 9 May 1939 and is buried in Leatherhead Parish
Churchyard.
His father died on 12 March 1961, Battersea, London.
Edward Ireland is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish
Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 9 Aug 20: 28 Sep 20