July 1890 - 13th February 1917 (age 26)
Private 40410
16th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
Born Edmund Pounce the son of Rebecca Lascelles Pounce who was unmarried
at the time, he began life living with his mother at the home of his grandmother
Ann Lascelles Pounce at Long Street, Thirsk. Rebecca married Thomas Jackson
in 1897 and they remained living in Long Street where in 1901 Edmund was
recorded as the 10 year old stepson to Thomas. Later, Edmund found work
as a cowman on a farm and moved to St. James' Green where he was a boarder
with Louisa Braithwaite. He then joined the North Eastern Railway in March 1913 and worked as a platform porter at Murton.
Edmund enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry going overseas on 11th
September 1915 and later that year he returned home to marry Laura Hurworth
in Thirsk. While living at Gillings Yard, Thirsk, they were blessed with
a son James Z. Lascelles born 14th November 1916 after which they moved
to live at Hope Cottages, Sowerby.
The high number of casualties commonly resulted in soldiers being transferred
between regiments, Edmund was transferred to the 16th Bn. Northumberland
Fusiliers and found himself at Mailly Maillet, Somme. The following is
extracted from the battalion war diary for 13th February 1917.
In the morning the 17th H.L.I. attacked the strong point in TEN TREE ALLEY.
The attacking party were unable to make headway. Our own artillery then
bombarded the point during the whole of the day, while the enemy put up
a heavy barrage along our front. B.coy in front suffered heavily from
shell fire, it is reported our own falling short. About midday Capt. SMITH
having been wounded 2nd Lt. KING arrived to take over our command of the
COY. bringing with him reinforcements from A.coy. C.coy at WALKER QUARRY
reinforcing A in the HUB group. Our posts kept up a heavy lewis gun and
rifle fire on the enemy reinforcements on their way to the strong point.
The attack was however successful. In the evening the Bn. was relieved
by the 2/6th W.Yorks. REGT. and returned to billets at MAILLY MAILLET and BERTRANCOURT.
It is likely that Edmund was killed in this action - perhaps he was in
B Company which was at the front and heavily shelled. His grave is at
Serre Road Cemetery No.1.
In his will, Edmund's effects of £46 9s 6d were left to his widow Laura Isabel Lascelles.
The grave of Edmund Lascelles at Serre Road Cemetery No.1
The information on this page was compiled by Steve Billings.
Information about Edmund Lascelles on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Information about Edmund Lascelles on the War Graves Photographic Project website
Information about Edmund Lascelles on the National Railway Museum database of railway workers that lost their lives in the First World War