Rfn
Roland Hil Edge
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/09/1885 |
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Place of birth: Caverswall, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Potter |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: R/13789 |
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Enlistment date: 01/06/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Longton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Royal Rifle Corps, 18th Bn. (Arts & Crafts) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Near Paytis Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2 Plot: I Row: T Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Rifleman Roland Hill Edge served in the sniping section of the 18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts) King’s Royal Rifle Corps which was part of the 122nd Brigade, 41st Division. This division took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge on the 20th of September 1917.
On the 20th of September the 41st Division advanced with three brigades, namely the 124th brigade on the right, 122nd on the left and the 123 in reserve. The 122nd Brigade attacked with the 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps , supported by the 12th East Surreys, on the right and the 15th Hampshire Regiment supported by the 11th Royal West Kent’s on the left. The 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps had the task of attacking the Blue Line (the second objective). D and C-Companies had to attack and consolidate the Red Line (the first objective) and B and A-Companies had to pass through the Red Line and attack the Blue line.
At 5:40 a.m. on the 20th of September 1917 the attack was launched. After stiff fighting and heavy casualties both objectives were captured and consolidated. The 122nd Division formed a defensive flank on the right where the 124th brigade had failed to advance. On the 21st of September the newly won positions were subject to heavy shelling from the enemy, but also suffered from ‘shorts’ from their own artillery. Parties from C and D-Companies that tried to move up were subject to enfilade machine gun fire form the right flank. A and B-Companies on the western edge of Tower Hamlets plateau were persistently sniped. In het afternoon the enemy counterattacked three times but were repulsed. The War Diary notes that the 22nd of September passed without real incident, but shelling on all positions was very heavy. The regiment was relieved on the 23rd of September.
In September 1917 the King’s Royal Rifle Corps suffered 43 other ranks killed and 75 wounded in addition to the officer casualties. After the family of Rifleman Roland Hill Edge wrote the headquarters of the 18th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps in December 1917 concerning the fact that they had not heard from him in over three months, he was reported be wounded or missing in the field on the 22nd of September 1917. His grave was found after the war on the battlefield (28.NE J25 a. 3. 9.). This grave was located in the place that B-company occupied, making it likely that he was part of this company. Rifleman Roland Hill Edge was most likely killed by artillery or sniper fire while holding the line on the 22nd of September 1917 and buried where he fell. His grave was later moved to La Brique Military Cemetery No.2.
On the 20th of September the 41st Division advanced with three brigades, namely the 124th brigade on the right, 122nd on the left and the 123 in reserve. The 122nd Brigade attacked with the 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps , supported by the 12th East Surreys, on the right and the 15th Hampshire Regiment supported by the 11th Royal West Kent’s on the left. The 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps had the task of attacking the Blue Line (the second objective). D and C-Companies had to attack and consolidate the Red Line (the first objective) and B and A-Companies had to pass through the Red Line and attack the Blue line.
At 5:40 a.m. on the 20th of September 1917 the attack was launched. After stiff fighting and heavy casualties both objectives were captured and consolidated. The 122nd Division formed a defensive flank on the right where the 124th brigade had failed to advance. On the 21st of September the newly won positions were subject to heavy shelling from the enemy, but also suffered from ‘shorts’ from their own artillery. Parties from C and D-Companies that tried to move up were subject to enfilade machine gun fire form the right flank. A and B-Companies on the western edge of Tower Hamlets plateau were persistently sniped. In het afternoon the enemy counterattacked three times but were repulsed. The War Diary notes that the 22nd of September passed without real incident, but shelling on all positions was very heavy. The regiment was relieved on the 23rd of September.
In September 1917 the King’s Royal Rifle Corps suffered 43 other ranks killed and 75 wounded in addition to the officer casualties. After the family of Rifleman Roland Hill Edge wrote the headquarters of the 18th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps in December 1917 concerning the fact that they had not heard from him in over three months, he was reported be wounded or missing in the field on the 22nd of September 1917. His grave was found after the war on the battlefield (28.NE J25 a. 3. 9.). This grave was located in the place that B-company occupied, making it likely that he was part of this company. Rifleman Roland Hill Edge was most likely killed by artillery or sniper fire while holding the line on the 22nd of September 1917 and buried where he fell. His grave was later moved to La Brique Military Cemetery No.2.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/451115/edge,-/ Sources used |
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Hare Steuart, The annals of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, (Londen: John Murray, 1932), p. 238-242. Sources used |
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Naval & Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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R. Byron, 'The King's Royal Rifle Corps chronicle,' Winchester: Warren and son, 1915-1921, p. 212-213. Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |