Edmund William Baldwyn Childe-Pemberton was born on 21 July 1895 in London, the elder son of William Shakespeare Childe Pemberton (1857-1924) and Lady Constance Lucy Violet Childe-Pemberton née Bligh (1869-1950). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in the St George Hanover Square registration district, London. On 24 August 1895 he was baptised by the Dean of York at St George Church, Hanover Square, London, where the baptismal register show his family as residing at 26 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, Mayfair. His father was described as a gentleman. His younger brother was Roland Ivo Lacon Childe (1898-1944).
He was educated at Harrow and Brighton and in the 1911 census he was described as 'at school' a visitor in the Royal Crescent Hotel, 102 Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex, together with his brother.
At the outbreak of World War One he obtained a commission in the 12th Cavalry Reserve and underwent training at Aldershot, Hampshire. He served with the British Expeditionary Force entering France on 14 October 1916 in the 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars and was later attached to the 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars. On 4 April, 1917, took part in the operations at Vimy Ridge, when he was in command of a dismounted party of 100 Cavalry Pioneers. At Pimple Hill he was exposed to heavy shell fire; was mortally wounded, aged 21 years, on 13 April 1917 and died the same day at Barlin. His body was buried in Plot 1, Row H, Grave 65 in the Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, 101 Chem. Saint-Bertin, 62620 Barlin, France.
Probate records confirm that his home address had been 12 Portman Street, Middlesex and that when administration was granted to his father on 18 August 1917 his effects totalled £104-1s-0d. On 12 September 1917 his army effects totalling £103-5s-6d were sent to his father. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal which were sent to his father at The Wyche Cottage, Malvern, Worcestershire, on 7 December 1922.
On 29 May 1924 his widowed mother was awarded a further grant of probate and this time his effects totalled £7,701-3s-10d.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
