Born: 1891
Died: 22 August 1917
Buried: Artillery Wood Cemetery
Address: 91 Harrogate Raod, Eccleshill
Parents: Albert and Miranda, nee Coe
Spouse: Sylvia, nee Butler
Siblings:
Occupation: Warehouseman
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Gunner
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill Park & St Luke’s
Children: Ethel
Regiment: RFA
Edgar Murgatroyd
Edgar Murgatroyd was born in
1891, the son of publican Albert
and Miranda, nee Coe. In 1896
Miranda died aged 31 years.
Albert immediately remarried to
Caroline Rider.
Albert died in 1905 aged 41 years
and by 1911 the family were living
at 91 Harrogate Road, Eccleshill
and Edgar at 19 years of age is a
warehouseman.
On the 11th of December 1912 at
St Mary Laisterdyke, Edgar
married Sylvia Butler who was 20
years of age, a drawer of 16
Kimberley Street and the daughter
of William Butler, a warp dresser.
They had one daughter Ethel who
was born in
Bradford in 1913.
When Edgar
enlisted he was still
living at 91
Harrogate Road and
he was employed by
E G Williams and
Co. Stuff and
Woollen Merchants
in Church Bank.
Edgar enlisted
around November
1915 as Gunner
134861 in the 92nd Battery of the
17th Brigade of the Royal Field
Artillery.
His Regiment arrived on the
Western Front in September
1916 but his unit did not take
part in any major battle.
In January 1917 he
contracted bronchitis and on
the 9th of February 1917 he
was transferred to a sick
convoy on the 7th
ambulance train. On
recovery he returned to the
Western Front, went down
with Trench Feet and was
returned home to recover.
On his return to the Western
Front his 29th Division was
involved in the Battles of Ypres and
took part in the Battle of
Langemarck from the 16th of 18th
August 1917 and he was killed in
action on the 22nd of August 1917
at a time when no major offensive
was taking place. He was 26 years
of age.
He was buried in Artillery Wood
Cemetery a front line cemetery in
Belgium. At the time of the
armistice it contained 141 graves of
which 42 belonged to the Royal
Artillery.
He left his effects to his widow
Sylvia who received £3.15.2d on
the 19th of January 1918 and a War
Gratuity of £5.10.0d on the 1st
November 1919.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
