Ayling, E S
EDWARD STEPHEN AYLING
There is no trace of AYLING E S in either the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s dataset or in Soldiers Died in the Great War.
However, there is Edward Stephen AYLING who was a Sergeant in the 5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) who died 24 June 1918 from illness contracted whilst serving in France.
He enlisted 4 September 1914 at Bunhill Road, London, in the Territorial Force for 4 years’ service in the U.K. He attested to the 5th Battalion City of London Rifles no. 300493: a clerk aged 27, 5’10” tall, of Watford. He served at Home 4 September 1914 to 9 July 1916, during which time he was appointed Lance-Corporal 21 January 1915; and in France 10 July 1916 to 19 August 1917, when he was promoted to Acting Corporal 30 July 1916, appointed Corporal 14 March 1917, was gassed 12 April 1917, appointed Lance-Sergeant 22 May 1917, and promoted Sergeant 16 July 1917. He suffered a gun shot wound to the thigh 16 August 1917, was admitted to 17 Casualty Clearing Station, and sent back to England 19 August 1917. He served at Home again 20 August to 22 November 1917, when he was discharged being no longer physically fit for war service, now aged 30. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and the Silver War Badge which was issued 3 December 1917.
There is a Death announcement for Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 29 June 1918.
Son of the late James and Kate Louisa (nee CONQUEST) AYLING.
His parents married 14 August 1882 at St Luke’s, Kentish Town, London. Kate died 1890 in Bushey, Herts, aged 30, and was buried 20 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; James died 27 July 1910 in Watford aged 53, and was buried 30 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Edward was born 17 March 1887 in Bushey, and attended Watford Grammar School from April 1901 to May 1904. He died in Watford aged 31, the cause of death was given as tuberculosis of the lungs, and was buried 27 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 4 he was a boarder in Oxhey, Herts, with his widowed father and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 14 he still lived in Oxhey, with his widowed father and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a commercial clerk aged 24, he was a boarder in Oxhey.
Rank
SerjeantUnit
5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade)Regiment
Place buried
Date of death
24/06/1918Age at death
31Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)