Eden, George

A Londoner who served with the “Hull Commercials”. Born Battersea, 01/05/1895. Son of George and Emily Eden. Educated at Battersea Park Road school (now Chesterton Primary School). Joined the London Railways on 20/05/1909. Employed as a Bar Boy (1911 Census) and then as a cook before enlisting. Husband of May Banks, who he married at Wandsworth Registry Office, 0n 13/03/1915. They had two children, George Frederick (born 18/01/1915) and Emily Jane (born 14/11/1916). They all lived with his sister at 59 Russell Street, Battersea, London. His mother was deceased and his father died suddenly while on George was on active service. George was not granted leave home for his funeral.

George Eden enlisted at Battersea, on 22/06/1915. Formerly, Private, 7868, Army Cyclist Corps.  His Army Records describe him as nearly 5 foot, 5 inches tall, 133 lbs weight, chest size 36-40 inches, sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, “Good” Physical development. Posted to France on 03/03/1916. He received a shrapnel wound to his right calf on 03/06/1916 and returned to England on 10/06/1916. Posted back to France, on 11/12/1916 and  transferred as Private, 36350, to the 10th East Yorkshire Regiment. Wounded at Oppy Wood on 03/05/1917. Died of wounds, next day, at No 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He had served in the army for one year and 322 days.  He is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery, France.

His army effects were left to his widow, May ay 78 Phillips Street, Queens Road, Lavender Hill, SW London. They included a bag, photos, pipe and cigarette case. She received a weekly war pension, of 22 shillings and 11 pence, for herself and two children, from 12/11/1917.

(Thank You to Eunice Ina Chambers (Granddaughter of George Eden) for information, sent on 17/01/2021.)

The attack on Oppy Wood, part of the Battle of Arras, was a significant battle for the East Yorkshire Regiment and particularly for the city of Hull.  All four Hull Pals battalions were involved on 3 May and all suffered heavy casualties, with 40% of those present killed or injured. 2nd Lieutenant Jack Harrison, a local teacher and rugby player with Hull FC, won a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery in rushing a machine gun position to protect his platoon. His body was never found.
The village of Oppy in France had been in German hands since October 1914 and was part of a formidable defensive system including trenches, dug-outs and thick barbed wire defences. During the Battle of Arras, which began in April 1917, the British tried to take Oppy. The first attack was a failure. A second attack was partially successful. The third attack on 3 May, known officially as the Third Battle of the Scarpe, was again unsuccessful with significant loss of life. The troops were ordered to attack at 3.45am, rather than at dawn, and the defending Germans could easily see the line of British soldiers clearly lit by the full moon. The British continued to attack Oppy and were finally successful the following year. The City of Hull Memorial at Oppy was unveiled in 1927 and commemorates the men of the Hull Pals who were killed on 3 and 4 May 1917.
First name:
GEORGE
Regiment:
10th East Yorkshire Regiment (Hull Commercials)
Military Number:
36350
Rank:
Private
Date Died
04/05/1917
Place died:
Aubigny Communal Cemetery, France
Age:
22
59 Russell Street, Battersea, London
Place Buried
Aubigny Communal Cemetery, France