Edwin George Bettington - Died 8 October 1916
Sunday 08 October 1916
Rank: PrivateNumber: 9858Regiment: 8th Battalion Royal FusiliersBorn: 1896Died: 8th October 1916Age: 20Cause of Death: Died of WoundsPlace of Commemoration: Longueval Road Cemetery, FranceCommemorated at Hereford Cathedral School, Hereford Cathedral and the Longueval Road CemeterySon of Edward James and Annie Ellen Bettington, of The Croft, Penn Grove Rd., Hereford.Langfordian Scholarship.Passed Oxford Local Exam., 1913, 1st Class Honours. Joined National Provincial Bank, 1914.The December, 1916 edition of The Herefordian included his obituary:Private E.G. Bettington (1909—13)Private Edwin George Bettington, U.P.S. Batt. Royal Fusiliers, was only 20 years of age when he received wounds in action which proved to be fatal. He proceeded to France with a draft in July, 1916, and within a very short time took part in the heavy fighting of that month. He had several narrow escapes from being killed. On one occasion he was buried, as a result of shell fire, and was only extricated with the greatest difficulty. On that occasion he brought back with him a German, whom he found pretending to be dead, and whom he took prisoner. In his letter home he described how the German quite expected to be killed, and his gratitude when he found he was going to be treated honourably was most touching to witness. He was in the assaults on Ovillers and Pozières. He was a young man who had very high ideals, which he endeavoured to carry out in his daily life. [Extract from “Hereford Times”] The Herford Times also printed a letter:-“ Sir, A few days after you announced the sad death of EG Bettington I received a most patriotic letter from Mr Powell stating that his son Cyril had been killed in action fighting against the Cruel Hun. … Some of your readers will no doubt recall that these two lads were bracketed equal first in the Minor Counties Scholarship examination in 1910. Very shortly after war was declared both boys joined the Army and have now paid the supreme sacrifice within a few days of each other fighting against barbarism and frightfulness, for the right against might, for liberty against tyranny….”