Born: 25 October 1887
Died: 17 April 1917
Buried: Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy
Address: 55 Mount Avenue, Eccleshill
Parents: Albert & Annie, nee Shackleton
Spouse: Ada, nee Hollings
Siblings: Florrie, Elsie, Ethel
Occupation: Pavior, Bradford Council
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Gunner
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s
Children: Stanley, Irene, Edmund Timothy
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Edgar Wilman
Edgar Wilman was born on the
25th of October 1887, the son of
Albert and Annie, nee Shackleto.
The family were living in
Manchester Road, Bradford when
Edgar was born. By 1911 they had
moved to 875 Bolton Road and
Edgar as a pavior for Bradford
Corporation.
On the 7th of October 1911 at St
Luke’s Church, Eccleshill, the bans
were read for Edgar Wilman,
bachelor of the parish of St
Chrysostom, Bolton Road, and Ada
Hollings of St Luke’s parish.
When Edgar enlisted the family
were living at 55 Mount Avenue
and three children had
been born, Stanley in
1912, Irene in 1913 and
Edmund Timothy in
1914.
Edmund enlisted
sometime after July
1916 as Private 780704
in ‘B’ Battery, 311th
Brigade of the Royal
Field Artillery.
On the 15th of April
1917 the 311th
Battalion was allocated
to the X111 Corps and took part in
the Arras Offensive from the 9th of
April to the 16th of June 1917.
Edgar was killed in
action on the 17th of
April 1917. He was 29
years of age and had
only been four months
on the Western Front.
His wife Ada received
a letter from Major
Mackenzie who said
“His loss is mourned
by all ranks in the
Battery and all the
Officers and NCOs
and men wish to
express their deep sympathy in
your sad bereavement. It may help
you to know that his death must
have been absolutely painless and
unknown to him. Two others
suffered the same fate and six more
were wounded at the same time.”
Edgar is buried in the Bailleul Road
East Cemetery at St Laurent-
Blangy, the village falling into
British hands on the first day of the
Battle of Arras and the cemetery
was begun in April 1917. Every
year of the war is represented here
but more particularly the last nine
months of 1917.
Edgar left his effects to his widow
Ada who received £2.16.1d on the
5th September 1917 and a War
Gratuity of £9.0.0d on the 6th
November 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
