R.W. Laurence Edginton was born on 14 September, 1895, at 42 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, the first and only son of Robert William and Elizabeth Baker Edginton (née Showell). He had three older sisters; Dorothy, Winifred and Mary. His father was a surgeon, probably in one of the hospitals in Birmingham. Laurence attended Bradfield College near Reading, and while there participated in the Officers Training Corps (OTC), which had been introduced to the public schools and universities in 1908. He studied there for about five years, finishing on 31 July, 1913 with the rank of Sergeant in the OTC. He applied for a posting as an officer in the Territorial Force on 4 December, 1913. By that time, he was a medical student, probably at the medical faculty of Birmingham University. The family appears to have moved in the intervening years to 70 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham (today, the house is a nursing home). He became 2nd Lieutenant at ”G” Company, the 1/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, a unit whose home was Thorpe Street barracks in Birmingham, being a part of The Warwickshire Brigade, South Midland Division. Laurence would have been on summer vacation after his first year at the University when he most likely received his mobilisation orders - the medical studies would have to wait. During the autumn, the British TF battalions went through a re-organization, and the previous structure with eight companies was changed to four. Laurence probably therefore was assigned to ”D” Company. Laurence was probably leading a rifle platoon, assisted by an experienced sergeant. The Division moved to France on 23 March, 1915.

The 1/5th Battalion was doing trench rotations, alternating between trench duty and rest and training behind the lines. Despite not being involved in any major engagements, enemy fire killed several soldiers at this time. On 9 May 1915, the day of the British attack on the Aubers Ridge a few miles to the South, there was a minor battle, where the battalion lost seven killed and 18 wounded. Laurence subjected himself to great danger, when he went over the top under severe enemy fire and rescued one of the wounded soldiers (a sniper). Laurence Edginton got away unscathed on this occasion, but he had less than a month to live.

On 13 May, 1915, the brigade changed designation to "143rd Brigade", and the division to "48th Division".

On 3 June, 1915, in a position recorded by the Battalion War Diary as "Trenches 61 - 65", Laurence was killed in action. This position was close to a place called "Point 63" by Court Dreve, which in turn lies near Cassel (between Calais and Lille). The trenches were situated in the River Douve valley, with the small towns Wytschaete, Messines and Ploegsteert close by.He was the second officer lost there by the battalion; the day before, his commanding officer Captain John Francis was killed. Captain Francis was CO for ”D” Coy, and commanding the battalion’s scouts and snipers. He was also shot by a sniper. Laurence assumed command of the scouts, but was apparently killed by a sniper in the same place in the trenches as Captain Francis, less than 24 hours after he took over. Ironically, Laurence was killed on the 50th birthday of his king, George V, whose royal cypher was etched on his sword, but he never even got to celebrate his own 20th birthday.

He was buried at the regimental burial ground by Petit Pont, and his family was informed of his death. His remains were moved in post-war clearance to the Berks Cemetery Extension, Ploegsteert, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. The grave has reference/panel number III. D. 20.

Laurence wasn't married, nor was he engaged. A few days later, his replacement arrived to the battalion. It appears Laurence's father retired in 1916 (having reached the age of 65), and he and his wife moved to Walton St. Mary, Clevedon, Somerset. What kind of person was Laurence Edginton, and what were his interests? We may never know. All I was able to learn is that he was 5' 10" and in good health. A certificate of his good character was attached to his application for a posting at the Royal Warwicks. I may never be able to find out much more, but I get the impression that he was a dutiful young man. Laurence Edginton was posthumously decorated with three medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The two latter medals were awarded to almost everyone who fought in the Great War, but the first medal was only given to those who had been on the Western Front before 1916. It appears that he was promoted to Lieutenant, something that might have been in the works while he was still alive, but which he didn't get the opportunity to enjoy; he is listed as Lieutenant in the Regiment's Roll of Honour.

Here’s the text from the obituary published in The Birmingham Evening Mail, dated 8 June, 1915: ”Second-Lieutenant Edginton, who was killed on the same day as Captain Francis, was reported upon most favourably for a brilliant deed on May 9, when under severe fire he left the trenches carrying a sandbag in order to aid a member of his company who had been wounded. He was 19 years of age, and the only son of Dr. Edginton, 70, Portland Road, Egbaston, who for many years was an artillery officer at Stoney Lane. Lieut. Edginton had succeeded Captain Francis in the command of the Scouts of the 5th Battalion, and their photographs are reproduced from a group of the Scouts taken the day before they left for the front. Another member of the party, Private J. Maring of Nechells, was killed a month ago.”

Laurence Edginton is buried in Berks Cemetery Extension, Ploegsteert.

This article was submitted by and is the copyright of Björn Hellqvist. Björn purchased a British infantry officers sword, and undertook painstaking work to identify its owner, which turned out to have been Laurence Edginton. Björn has developed an excellent website, which explains how he researched this young officer, and gives much more detail than is shown here. My thanks for his help in adding this Hero to the site.

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