Southend Schools
 Festival of Remembrance

Edgar James Crowhurst was born in Tilbury, Essex on the 23th of December 1890 to parents Thomas and Louisa Crowhurst. The family is listed as living at 2 John Street, Shoeburyness - which is on the Shoebury Garrison.

Edgar's father and brother both worked for the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and on Edgar's sign up papers he is listed as a Railway Porter.

Edgar joined the army in 23rd August 1909 when he was 18 and at that time he was 5 feet and 4 inches tall, weighed 10 stone 11 pounds and had brown hair and grey eyes. A character reference described him as 'Sober and honest and tries hard".

Edgar first joined the Essex Regiment, moving to the Suffolk Regiment before being transferred to the Military Police Corps at Shoeburyness. 

Edgar was posted to Curragh Camp in Ireland, Bordon in Hampshire, Rohilla in Afghanistan, Quetta in Pakistan, Mauritius  and the Sudan before joining the Military Police in Shoeburyness.

Edgar injured his left knee in 1910 and again in 1911 - seemingly while playing football. 

According to army records Edgar's father died in 1912.

Edgar was admitted to hospital on the 9th December 1917 with Bronchitis which he recovered from, sadly he was back again on the 23rd November 1918 with influenza which he didn't recover from. 

Edgar died on the 27th November 1918 at the Cliff Military Hospital in Felixstowe and was buried at St Andrews Church, South Shoebury.