George Sanders Edlin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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George Sanders Edlin was born in 1892 the son of Eliza Edlin of Newark. He was raised by Eliza and her first husband, John Lamb, along with their children Harold and Sarah Frances Lamb and Eliza's second husband Fred Barlow and their children Fred, Florence, Charles, Percy, Kate, Ethel and Ruby Barlow. By the 1911 Census, George was living at Pepper Hill, Portland Street, Newark with an extended family unit including his grandmother Mary Ann Edlin, mother and step-father, seven half-siblings and uncles Robert Edlin and William Worthington and family. George married Florence Doncaster at Newark in 1915 and they lived at Whitfield Street, Newark.
George Sanders Edlin enlisted at Newark and landed in France on 29th August 1915. 12th Sherwood Foresters was 24th Division's pioneer battalion. Pioneer units were deployed to dig trenches, repair damaged defences and create roadways although they were fully trained soldiers expected to fight as infantry when necessary. They were often comprised of men used to heavy manual labour, typically miners and farm workers. Because they tended to be in action before or after attacks, pioneer casualties were usually lower than for other front line troops. 12th Bn Sherwood Foresters, for instance, suffered only 230 fatalities during the entire war compared to the same regiment's 1/5th and 1/7th Battalions which both had over 200 men killed on July 1st 1916 alone. George Edlin lost his life in the Ypres Salient during a routine pioneer battalion work detail. 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters' War Diary for 7/6/1917 recorded: 'Still warm and sunny weather but turned to thunder showers in the evening. 'B','C' and half of 'D' Coys worked on a new road from St Eloi Craters to Domehouse following the advance of the 24th Division made during the afternoon. ORs (Other Ranks) employed - 'B' Coy 125, 'C' Coy 120, 'D' Coy 23. This party took 2 prisoners. The other part of 'D' Coy worked on Oblong Avenue and made a way through with cover. ORs employed - 92. Casualties 13 ORs wounded, 3 killed, 3 missing.' TNA WO95/2201-1-3
Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 39 & 41 Family research by George Edlin's family member Chris Barlow Military Research by David Nunn
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