Edward John Rodwell Rich
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Edward John Rodwell Rich was born in 1876 at Hatfield, Hertfordshire and was the son of the late Jesse a gardener and Amelia Rich née Rodwell of 88 Beacon Hill Road, Newark. His father Jesse was born in 1835 at Silsoe, Bedfordshire he died in 1902 aged 67 yrs and his mother Amelia Rodwell was born in 1835 in Colchester, they were married on 9th May 1866 at Holy Trinity Church at Colchester, they went on to have the following children, James William b1867 Acton, Amelia Louisa b1869 Acton, Charlotte Emma b1871 Acton and Edward John Rodwell b1876 Hatfield. In the 1911 census his mother and Edward are living at 88 Beacon Hill Road, Newark and are shown as Ameila , head of the family widow 76 yrs of age she is living with her son Edward John Rodwell 35 yrs a brewers clerk.
Private Edward John Rodwell Rich was called up on 1st May 1916 , he served with the 8th battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 7th June 1917 and having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Article published 9th June 1917 in the Newark Herald :- He was at one time a clerk with Messrs. Jas Hole & Co. and was called up in his group, May 1916, being trained at Newcastle and went out the following August. Later he was in hospital suffering from debility and shortly afterwards returned to duty. Pte Rich was a cricketer, playing with Messrs. Hole & Co.’s team and also the town reserve. He was a capable wicket-keeper and a reliable bat. In football he played centre-half for Newark Reserve and Newark Amateurs, as well as occasionally appearing in the Midland League team. He was also a member of the Newark Rowing Club. On the 7th he was sent with four others for ammunition for the Maxim gun and was the only one who came back. The next day he was warned not to expose himself as a sniper was in the vicinity and he was endeavouring to locate him. Soon afterwards a shell dropped a yard from him and he was killed.
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