Edmund Reggie Blatherwick
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edmund Reggie Blatherwick was the son of Henry and Louisa Blatherwick (née Allwood). His father Henry was born in 1863 at Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, the son of John and Jane Blatherwick. He was baptised at Lowdham St Mary the Virgin in 1872; the family was still living in Gunthorpe. His mother Louisa Allwood was born in 1864 at Caythorpe, Nottinghamshire. Henry and Louisa were married at Lowdham St Mary the Virgin in December 1887 and had six children who were all born in Burton Joyce: Oliver b. 1889 bap. Lowdham St Mary, Bertha Mabel b. 1891, Albert Duke b. 1893, Sybil Nelly b. 1894 and Edmund Reggie b. 29 March 1897 who were all baptised at Burton Joyce St Helen, Edmund on 12 April 1899, and Charles Sidney birth registered 1906 (J/F/M). In 1891 Henry, a framework knitter, and Louisa, an embroiderer, were living on Chestnut Drive, Main Street, Burton Joyce with their son Oliver (1). By 1901 the family had moved to Slater's Terrace, Burton Joyce: Henry a framework knitter (spun silk), Louisa, Oliver, Bertha (9), Albert (7), Sybil (6) and Edmund (4). Their youngest son Charles was born five years later. The eldest son, Oliver, died in 1911 before the census was taken when his parents, Henry and Lousia, a 'chevener' [hand embroidery] (silk hosiery), and surviving siblings Bertha a machinist (blouse maker), Albert a printer (box making), Sybil a chevener (silk hosiery), Edmund a grocer's assistant and Charles (5), were living on Chesterfield Drive, Burton Joyce. Two other children died young, Sybil Nellie in 1915 and Albert Duke in 1918, as well as Edmund who was killed in action in 1916. Henry died in October 1932; he and his wife were still living at Chesterfield Drive, Burton Joyce. Probate was awarded to his widow and married daughter Bertha Mabel Smith (m. 1915, Sidney Smith). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Louisa was living at 4 Chesterfield Drive, Burton Joyce. Also in the household were Robert Bradshaw (b. 1903) and his wife Doris (b. 1902). Louise died on 5 December 1951; she was then living at 66 Chesterfield Drive, Burton Joyce. Probate was awarded in January 1952 to her only surviving child, Charles; his widowed sister Bertha, of 68 Chesterfield Drive, had died less than a fortnight after her mother.
25th Bn (Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers. No. 37759 formerly 5/5033. Transferred from the 1/5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers to the 25th Bn. The 25th (Service) Bn (2nd Tyneside Irish) was a Pals Battalion of the New Army and raised at Newcastle in November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. The battalion was drafted to France in January 1916 following training in the UK. Edmund Reggie was killed in action in France on 14 October 1916 and is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France (grave ref. III.A.40). He was eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (extract): 'Armentieres was occupied by the 4th Division on 17 October 1914 and it remained within the Allied lines until its evacuation ahead of the German advance on 10 April 1918, after a prolonged and heavy bombardment with gas shell. It was occupied by the Germans next day, and was not recovered until 3 October 1918. Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery was begun (Plot IX) in October 1914 and during the winter of 1914-15 it was used for civilian burials (later removed), the town cemetery at Le Bizet being too greatly exposed. The cemetery continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units (particularly the 4th, 6th, 21st, New Zealand, 17th and 57th (West Lancashire) Divisions and the Australian Corps) until April 1918. Plots V, VI, VII and X were then used by the Germans.' (www.cwgc.org)
Edmund is also listed on the Ireland memorial Records 1914-1918. This was an 8 volume publication detailing the Irish men and women who died in the Great War. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Henry was his legatee.
