Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Charles Dewey, a butcher’s assistant, born 1856 in Croxton Kerrial, Leicestershire, who was the son of Charles Dewey and Elizabeth Dewey (nee Silverwood), and his wife Sarah Ann Dewey (nee Akerman, married in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Belvoir, Leicestershire. John Edgar was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Harby, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 30th November 1890 in the Parish Church, Harby, his siblings were, James Akerman, born 1881 and George Ernest, born 1883, the latter two siblings were both born in Croxton Kerrial and Charles, born 1888 in Nottingham, in April 1891 the family home was at Back Lane, Harby. In the 3rd quarter of 1897 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, John’s mother died, aged 35. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at Stathern Road, Harby together with his widowed father, a brewer’s agent and his siblings, James, a farm labourer, George, a carpenter’s apprentice, Frances Elizabeth, a domestic housekeeper, born 1886 in Croxton Kerrial, Charles and Harry Silverwood, born 1893 in Harby and baptised on the 12th March 1893 in the Parish Church, Harby. In April 1911 John was employed as a limestone labourer and was residing near The Post Office, Harby, together with his widowed father a cheese maker.
The War Diary records: 3 Oct-15 - VERMELLES. Same as 2nd – one man killed – twelve NCO’s and men wounded.
On Friday November 26th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – HARBY. – MEMORIAL SERVICE. On Sunday evening a special memorial service was held in the parish church, for Private Edgar Dewey, of the Northamptonshire Regiment, son of Mr. John C. Dewey, of this village. The brave youth was reported “missing” after a charge on Oct. 4th, in France, and the father and relatives were kept in suspense until a letter arrived from a soldier to say his body was found on Nov. 7th, and a letter from his brother Charley gave the said soldier a clue to write to the deceased’s relatives. Special hymns and prayers were taken, and the Rector preaching from the words of Romans xiii II, “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep,” referred to the noble death of one fighting for his country and his village. The organist (Mr. Freck) played the “Dead March” at the close, and the whole service was most impressive. While great sympathy is felt for Mr. J. C. Dewey on the loss of one of his sons, the village is most proud of his patriotic family, all five sons being enrolled for their country. Two are still in France, one is in the Dardanelles, while the remaining one is at munition work.