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King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st/5th & 3652, 2nd/4th battalion KOYLI
Edwin Longley was born on 28th April 1897 at Westfield Street, Ossett the son of Fred and Mary Elizabeth Longley (nee Pollard). He was baptised at St. Peter’s, Earlsheaton on the 11th September 1901 on the same day as his siblings James Henry (1894 in Batley Carr) and Lilian Martha (1901) when their address was given as Ealey’s Yard, Earlsheaton and Fred’s job was a stoker. May Beatrice had been born in Cleckheaton in 1892 but was baptised at Holy Trinity, Batley Carr in 1893.
In 1901 the family lived at 15, Albert Street, Batley Carr before moving to 40, Albert Street. By 1911 Edwin was an errand boy for a draper and attended Warwick Road School. He was employed by Mr. Sharp, draper of Batley Carr, and later at Messrs G. & J. Stubley in the finishing dept. He was formerly connected with Batley Carr Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School & the Band of Hope. Before enlisting he become associated with Talbot Street United Methodist Church, Batley. The family moved to 11, Upper Mount Street before 1917.
Edwin enlisted at Batley in November 1914 in a local regiment when he was under age. He was kept in England on home duty until January 1917 when he was drafted to France. Edwin was in the 148th Brigade, 49th West Riding Division. In April 1917 he was invalided home suffering from septic poisoning in his foot but re-joined his unit in June.
The Battle of Poelcappelle was fought in Flanders on 9 October 1917 by the British and German armies, during the First World War and marked the end of the string of highly successful British attacks in late September and early October 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres. Only the supporting attack in the north achieved a substantial advance. On the main front the German defences withstood the limited amount of artillery fire managed by the British after the attack of 4 October. The ground along the main ridges had been severely damaged by shelling and rapidly deteriorated in the rains, which began again on 3rd October, turning some areas into a swamp.
Dreadful ground conditions had more effect on the British, who needed to move large amounts of artillery and ammunition to support the next attack. The battle was a defensive success for the German army, although costly to both sides. The weather and ground conditions put severe strain on all the infantry involved and led to many wounded being stranded on the battlefield. Early misleading information and delays in communication led Plumer and Haig to plan the next attack on 12 October (First Battle of Passchendaele) under the impression that a substantial advance had taken place at Passchendaele ridge, when most of the captured ground had been lost to German counter-attacks.
An officer wrote to his parents: –
“During the whole time he served with me he showed marked courage and cheerfulness under very trying conditions and was a fine example to his comrades. His loss is greatly felt by the officers and men of his Company. His body had been buried under French soil. In conveying to you and all his relatives and friends our deepest sympathy in your great bereavement, I want to add my own personal sympathy in the loss of one who showed himself a soldier and a hero.”
Edward Longley was killed in action on 9th October 1917, aged 20 years. He is remembered at Tyne Cot Memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 108-111.
Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground for the dead of the First World War in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front. It is the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, for any war. The cemetery and its surrounding memorial are located outside Passendale, near Zonnebeke in Belgium. You can see more at this link;
https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/85900/tyne-cot-memorial/
Edwin was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is remembered with Honour at Talbot Street United Methodist Church, Batley Carr Wesleyan Chapel and Batley War Memorial.
Edwin will also be remembered by his name at the Ossett War Memorial alongside his brothers and sisters in arms. We know them as The Ossett Fallen.
Sources
Our thanks to Batley History Group & Ossett Fallen Team for research and this biography.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/833146/edwin-longley/
