Trafford

Born at "The Mount", Altrincham on the 19th July 1893, the only son of
Arthur Griffiths & Mildred Edghil (nee Ogle).

1901 census -  The Mount, Altrincham.    Son - aged: 7 - born: Altrincham. 
    Head of Household Arthur G. Edghill (father) - Married - aged: 36 -
occ: Iron Merchant and Metal Agent - born: British Guiana.   Also Mildred
Edghill (mother) - Wife - aged: 35 - born: Manchester.   Plus 2 sisters and
3 servants.  

Educated at Sedbergh School, Cumbria (Evans House) between 1907 and 1911 - 
No. 1652 on the School Register, leaving there in December 1911.

1911 Census - Evans House, Sedbergh School, Sedbergh, Yorkshire.    
Boarder - aged: 17 - Scholar - born: Altrincham, Cheshire.

His parents, now aged 46 and 45 were then residing at "Bramber",
Ollerbarrow Road, Hale, Cheshire.

When war broke out, he joined the Earl of Chester's Imperial Yeomanry as a
Trooper and was commissioned in June 1915.    "Soldiers Died" states that
he was in the Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the LIne (inc. Yeomanry &
Imperial Camel Corps).    He trained at Langley Park, near Norwich. and was
drafted to France with the Manchester Rgt.

MIC simply states that he was drafted to France (no date given) but must
have been after 1915.   Awarded the BWM & Victory.

WO 374 states - Served in the Sedbergh School O.T.C. - he entered the
Cheshire Yeomanry as a Private on the 1st December 1913.  Medically
examined at Knutsford that day, he was recorded as being 20 years + 120 day
of age, he was 5 feet 8½ inches in height, he weighted 152 lb and his
chest measurement was 35/2 inches and described as of sound physical
development.   His occupation was: Iron Merchant, employed by Richard Ogle
& Co.  He was Commissioned on the 9th June 1915 whilst at Langley Park,
Norwich.   His Effects form 126a states that at the time of his death, he
was attached to the 2/9th Bn Manchester Rgt.   The form also states that
his will bequeathed his effects to his two sisters - Joan & Winifred
Mildred Edghill.  His estate was valued at £1,649. 14.  7d.

According to the Sedbergh School records, he was killed instantaneously by
a sniper during the fight for the Passchendaele Ridge - part of what was
known as the "Third Battle of Ypres".   It is quite possible that he is
buried in one of the many unknown graves contained in the Tyne Cot Cemetery
that now stands on the Passchendaele Ridge - it is the largest British
Commonwealth Military Cemetery in the World and contains the remains of
11,908 men.   Tyne Cot was the name of a farm that once stood on this
Ridge.

The Battle of Poelcapelle, which was the 6th engagement of the "Third
Battle of Ypres", took place on the 9th October 1917.   There was severe
fighting on a 6 mile front with three British Divisions who took nearly
7,000 casualties to gain the Broodseinde Ridge and reach the southern edge
of the Houlthulst Forest, taking 2,000 German POWs in the process.    The
Germans counter-attacked on a 2,000 yard front south of the Ypres to Staden
railway line.      The continual bombardment of the battlefield area caused
the breakdown af any field drainage system and when the heavy rains came
the whole area turned into a quagmire - many men were drowned.   After more
rain on the 7th October, Plumer & Gough requested that the Ypres offensive
be closed down, but Haig refused (but then he was back in his HQ - not out
in the swamps).

Listed as a Second Lieutenant on St. Peter's Mem - as A. Richard Edghill on
St. George's Mem - also listed in the Guardian Year Book - R of H for
1918.

Death reported in the 19/10/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.