Edgar Raymond Jarrett

Paul R Hughes

Lance Corporal 19562, Grenadier Guards

Born: 8 May 1892 

Enlisted: 21 September 1914 

Discharged: 20 September 1926

Edgar was born in Campden, the fifth son of John and Mary Ann Jarrett. His father was born in Mickleton and in 1901 was employed as a gardener and his mother was working from home as a laundress. After leaving Campden Grammar School Edgar found employment as a grocer’s assistant for Reginald Hands.

Edgar enlisted at Campden Recruiting Office on 21 September 1914, when he was 22 years old, and joined the Grenadier Guards in Caterham the next day. He was passed fit for active service at his medical examination in Caterham on 2 October 1914 and his records state that he had fair hair, blue/grey eyes and a fair complexion. His religion was Church of England.

After a period of ten months training in England Edgar arrived in France with the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards on 26 July 1915. He was now a lance corporal as he had been promoted in England on 28 June.

On 27 September 1915 he was badly wounded in the chest, which resulted in his being admitted to hospital in France on 3 October. His condition was serious as the wound had damaged his lung. By the time that he was sent back to England on 18 October he had greatly recovered.

The next year was spent in England and it was not until 14 November 1916 that Edgar was posted overseas again. After only thirty-five days abroad Edgar returned to England on 18 December. The rest of the war was spent serving in England and on 7 July 1917 he married Dorothy Hopkins at St. Andrew’s Church, Chelsea, London and they set up home in Beaufort Street, London, SW3.

Edgar continued serving as a regular soldier with the Grenadier Guards after the war ended in November 1918 and was discharged from the army on 20 September 1926 after twelve years’ service. The post-war years were all spent on home service.

During his time in the army Edgar passed classes of instruction in bayonet fighting and physical education. He also gained his 3rd class and 2nd class certificates of education. 

This page was added on 20/04/2014.

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