George Richard Eddie was born in 1882 in Market Stainton, Lincolnshire, the eldest of the three children of George William Eddie (1856-1906) and Blanche Adeline Eddie née Ogle (1857-1940). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1882 in the Horncastle registration district, Lincolnshire.
He is shown in the 1891 census as living at The Hall, Market Stainton, Lincolnshire, with his parents, his sister Blanche Maud Eddie (1885-1965), his maternal aunt Lucy Sarah Eddie (1849-1892), together with a cook, a parlour maid, a nurse and a housemaid. His father's occupation was recorded as a farmer. His other sister, Stella Muriel Eddie (1892-1943) was born in Market Stainton on 2 November 1892.
He was described as a 19-year-old schoolboy boarding at Pocklington Grammar School, West Green, Pocklington, Yorkshire in the 1901 census.
In the 'Persons Holding Situations under The Crown in the Bank of England' section of both the 1905 and 1910 editions of the Post Office London Directory he is listed as Eddie, George R., Bank of England, Western Branch. In early 1911 he enlisted as a Private in the Honourable Artillery Company, a Territorial Force battalion, his service number being 614. When the 1911 census was undertaken he was shown as a Bank of England worker residing in one of the 304 rooms of the Connaught Club, 75-79 Seymour Street, Paddington.
He entered France with his battalion on 29 December 1914 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment on 16 July 1915. He was serving in the regiment's 1st/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion when he died from influenza, aged 36 years, on 3 November 1918. His body was buried in Plot 10, Row A, Grave 7 in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, 5 Hameau de Terlincthun, 62126 Ham. de Terlincthun, 62126 Wimille, France.
Probate records confirm that his address had been the Connaught Club, Marble Arch, Middlesex and that he died on 3 November 1918 in Boulogne, France. Probate was granted on 4 March 1919 to his two sisters and to a cousin called Charles George Brandrum (1875-1957), who was described as a gentleman. His effects totalled £5,908-4s-8d.
By 9 September 1919 his two sisters, who were his executrices, and Charles George Brandrum, his executor, were sent his army effects totalling £168-12s-0d. His elder sister, Blanche Maud Eddie, applied for his posthumously awarded 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1918 and Victory Medal. These were sent to her at Bramblehurst, Thundersley, Southend, Essex.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, the latter of which (in 2023) incorrectly shows him as a Lieutenant in the Honourable Artillery Company.
He is shown as Eddie.G.R. Lieut. York&Lan.Reg. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
