1878 - 16th January 1917 (age 38)
Private 32540
1st Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
Edward Daynes was born in Norfolk the son of a bricklayer. He remained
in Norfolk until 1901 when at the age of 22, he stated his occupation
as bricklayer's labourer, perhaps he worked with his father. However,
by 1903 he was living in Sowerby working as a farm labourer when he married
Elizabeth Anne Jones on 24th December of that year. Elizabeth was the
daughter of William Jones, deceased coal leader.
The couple continued living in Sowerby where they had four children, while
Edward worked as a carter and later a coal leader on his own account.
He enlisted in Thirsk under the Derby Scheme. The 1st Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
was stationed in India throughout the Great War in a peace-time cantonment
existence. From time to time, individuals found excuses to get away to
the war and it was necessary to send over new drafts. Edward was sent
there to join the battalion, and perhaps his family would feel relived
that he was going to a place which was relatively safe compared to the
Western Front. However, part way through the journey, he contracted cerebro
spinal meningitis and died at sea. Edward is remembered on the Hollybrook
Memorial at Southampton, that memorial commemorates "Men who fell in the
Great War and have no other grave but the sea, or to whom the fortune
of war denied the known and honoured burial".
Edward Daynes is remembered on the Hollybrook Memorial
The information on this page was compiled by Steve Billings.
Information about Edward George Daynes on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Information about Edward George Daynes on the War Graves Photographic Project website
Information about Edward George Daynes on the Yorkshire Regiment - First World War Remembrance website