Ashtead War Memorials - WWI - 2nd Lieutenant Edgar Brooks Harrison
7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own)

EB Harrison’s birth was registered at Epsom in the March Quarter of 1897. His parents Charles Ernest Harrison [b.reg. Chorlton, Manchester 9/1855] and Maud née Kesteven had married in the summer of 1891 and their first child arrived on 19 January 1892 when the family home had been set up at Summerfield, Weybridge.

They came to Ashtead in time for the arrival of a third son, Edgar, to take up residence in Westfield, another of the properties newly erected on the Ashtead Land Company Ltd’s development around the New Road [later The Marld], probably having taken a lease although an opportunity to purchase the property arose in 1901.

Charles E Harrison practised as a Solicitor; at one time in a partnership, Harrison and Robinson, at 263 Strand, W.C. but later from 88 & 90 Chancery Lane and at Westfield, Ashtead. He integrated with the community locally, becoming a member of the short-lived Ashtead Golf Club and (in an honorary capacity) of the Village’s Working Men’s Club.

It has not been established where Edgar obtained his education but his maternal grandfather came from Leeds and he could have been at school in Yorkshire. In any event, having attained the age of 18, he was commissioned in the West Yorkshire Regiment on 21 September 1915.

The 7th Battalion had a complicated history as is explained below: -

The Leeds Rifles
The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (TF)
“The Leeds Rifles were raised in 1859 when the Volunteer Force was formed to meet an invasion threat from France. The Corps was titled 7th Yorkshire, West Riding, (Leeds) Rifle Volunteer Corps. Many prominent Leeds businesses raised complete companies from their workforces, including Joshua Tetley's brewery. The Tetley family played a central part in the Leeds Rifles for well over a century providing a number of officers, commanding officers and honorary colonels. The Leeds Rifles at first had their barracks next to the Town Hall where the Law Courts stand today. As 'Rifle Volunteers' the Corps received little War Office funding and their accommodation, uniform, arms and equipment were largely funded through subscriptions. The unit grew quickly, soon reaching 1,000 and, as well as producing an elite volunteer infantry unit, played a central part in the social life of the city.

Edward Cardwell's reorganisation of the army in the 1880's required The Leeds Rifles to become a 'Volunteer Battalion' of The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). The Leeds Rifles, by now a flourishing unit, stoutly declined the War Office offer to join another regiment. The dispute lasted several years, resulting in The Leeds Rifles retaining their distinctive Rifle Green uniform and regimental accoutrements, and not being required to bear the colours of The West Yorkshire Regiment, despite, in 1887, becoming the 3rd Volunteer Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (Leeds Rifles). By this time the unit had become so large that it had bought and modernised, with Corps funds, the old militia barracks at Carlton Hill, and so Carlton Barracks became the home of The Leeds Rifles.

On the outbreak of the Boer War the Leeds Rifles formed two Volunteer Active service Companies whose active service resulted in the award of the Leeds Rifles' first battle honour, ‘South Africa’.

When the Volunteer Force became the Territorial Force, in 1908, the unit expanded to form two battalions, each over 1,000 strong, the 7th and 8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalions The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (TF). In July 1914 both battalions returned early from camp with orders to embody for war. So many former Leeds Riflemen and new recruits turned up at Carlton Barracks that two second line battalions were formed. The original battalions were identified as 1/7th and 1/8th; the second line as the 2/7th and 2 /8th. The first line battalions served in France and Flanders from April 1915 continuously to the end of the war as part of the all-territorial 49th (1st West Riding) Infantry Division. A large part of their active service found them enduring the misery of holding the infamous Ypres Salient as well as the Battle of the Somme, Passchendaele and the final advance to victory.”

http://www.yorkshirevolunteers.org.uk/leedsrifles.htm

The 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment was incorporated in 18th Division forces sent to relieve 36th (Ulster) Division and pursue an attack from around Thiepval Wood in September 1916. It appears that 2nd Lieutenant EB Harrison fell in a final assault that resulted in the capture of Thiepval on 26 September 1916. He is described as having died from wounds and was buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery.

http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/puchevillers.htm

Westfield villa was demolished in 1967 for the Span development which may be found east of where The Marld meets The Street/Epsom Road.

Charles Ernest Harrison died at Oak Tree Cottage, Woodfield Lane, Ashtead, aged 81, on 25 September 1936.

text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact the editor
page added 12 Feb 2009