Edgar Churcher

Information from the 1911 census In 1911 18-year-old student teacher Edgar Churcher was living at 44 Lansdowne Gardens with his brother, Alfred Churcher, 25, a stockbroker, and Alfred's wife 29, also born in Lambeth. Also in the household were Herbert Churcher, a 58-year-old widowed bookbinder born in Bromley, Kent and another brother, Athelstan Churcher, 16, a warehouseman's assistant (cloth). Herbert Churcher's three sons were born in Lambeth. Martha Marshall, 25, a general domestic servant from Greenock, Scotland, lived in.

National Archives Officers' Service Records

Edgar Churcher enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the City of London Rifles on 7 September 1914 at Bunhill Row, in the City of London. He served at Home until 23 January 1915, when he was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He joined his battalion at the beginning of February but three weeks later was in hospital suffering from boils. His record notes a bout of neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion) in April 1915.

His records list "D.A.H." (possibly disordered action of the heart) between 28 April and 11 May 1915, followed by "Transf to Con. Gp" (possibly convalenscence?). He rejoined his battalion on 30 May. Three months later, on 22 August, he was sent to Cadet School, as he was to be appointed as a temporary Lieutenant.

Churcher was described as 5 feet 9 inches, with a 36-inch chest, expandable by 3 inches. His vision was good (with glasses) and his physical development was good.

The record does not state when he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

After he was killed, his father Herbert Churcher was granted a gratuity of just under £100, and like many parents, he wrote several letters to the War Office in an effort to settle his son's estate.

British Army WW1 Service Records 1914-1920

The service records of Edgar's brother Athelstan show that the family moved to 31 Meadow Row. Athelstan was discharged in 1919 and gave an address in Norbury as his home - so possibly the family moved away from Kennington/Stockwell from that time.

St Olave's School

The picture of Edgar Churcher is taken from a presentation by Peter J. Leonard available on the St Olave's School website at www.saintolaves.net. When you enter the site, click on 'Welcome' then on 'Chaplaincy' and scroll to the bottom. There is a thread on St Olaves at the Great War Forum.

Churcher attended the school between September 1907 and July 1910.