G/16794 Private Edward Manville, 2nd Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt

Edward Manville first appears in Chailey Parish Magazine in August 1916 where he is noted quite simply as Manville, Pte E, England.   

In November 1916 that information is updated to note the fact that he is serving with the 2^nd Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in England.  The following month it is noted that he has been invalided and discharged and this information is repeated up to and including March 1917 after which there are no further entries for this man. 

Edward was born in Brighton in 1882 and appears on the 1901 census living at 2 Plough Cottages, Plumpton near Chailey and working as an eighteen year old labourer for Mr Wells (builder).  The rest of the family comprised John Manville (head, aged 44, also working as a labourer for Mr Wells). Elizabeth Manville (wife, aged 41), Laura Manville (aged 12), Annie Manville (aged eight), Charles Manville (aged seven) John Manville (aged five), Albert Manville (also aged five) and Jesse Manville (aged two). 

He was conscripted into the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on 4th July 1916 when he was 34 years old.  He gave his trade as farm labourer and his address as Warren Market Gardens, North Common, Chailey.  His next of kin is noted as his wife, Lily May Manville (nee Hatfield), whom he had married at Chailey Parish Church on 5th August 1905.  Two children are also recorded: Edward Joseph Manville (born 19th September 1908) and an adopted son, Alfred William Tanner, who was born on 25th November 1908. 

Edward was posted to the Queen’s Depot on 5th July 1916 and given the number G/16794.  On 3rd October that year he was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and remained with the regiment until his discharge from the 8th Provisional Field Ambulance at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex the following month. 

Surviving papers at the National Archives in Kew note that the cause of his discharge was Vascular Disease of the Heart (VDH) which, “originated March 1903 in Sussex.  Says he has always had a weak chest.  Had measles when 21, went deaf after it and was worse generally after that.”  A medical board held on 1st November 1916 noted that his condition was permanent albeit not the result of and not aggravated by service.  However, a second Medical Board convened three weeks later, noted that his condition had been aggravated by military service. He was awarded a lump sum gratuity of £10. 

Edward was discharged from the army on 22nd November 1916 and later received a silver war badge.  A subsequent appeal for an army pension was disallowed by a pension appeal tribunal in June 1919.