Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Duncan, a quarry worker, born 11th January 1862 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Duncan (nee Wain, married in the 3rd quarter of 1880 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1860 in Markfield, Leicestershire. Edmund was born in the 4th quarter of 1889 in Huncote, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Zillah, born 6th February 1881 and Ada, born 6th June 1887, both his siblings were born in Huncote, in April 1891 the family home was at South View, Huncote. In March 1901 Edmund was residing in the family home at Huncote Villa, Huncote, together with his widowed father, a stone quarry worker and his siblings, Zillah, a Griswold stocking frame knitter and Ada a Griswold stocking frame linker. In April 1911 Edmund was employed as a granite stone quarry worker and was residing in the family home in Huncote, together with his wife Elsie Ellen Duncan (nee Stevens, married in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 28th March 1891 in Enderby, Leicestershire and their daughter Ivy M., born 9th July 1910 in Huncote. Edmund’s widow married Harry W. Sewell in the 4th quarter of 1931 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. In 1939, Edmund’s widowed father, a retired stone quarry worker was residing in the family home at 11, Forest Road, Huncote, and Edmund’s wife, Elsie was residing in the family home at 4, Brook Street, Huncote, together with her husband Harry, a carpenter’s labourer, born 9th May 1886.
Edmund was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 23 Mar-1918 – 2.00 am. The Battalion was disposed in trenches on the West of the River Somme.
8.00 am. Battalion moved into assembly position in --- as Reserve to 60th Brigade, 20th Division, attacking on the line CAZIGNY.
Battalion disposed in Redoubt and dug in under River embankment.
“X” and “Y” Companies now organised as one Company under Captain A. L. PROSSER.
5.45 pm. Orders from Brigadier General Commanding 60th Brigade to clear up CAZIGNY, destroy footbridge and prolong the KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS line from there.
2 Platoons under 2nd Lieutenant’s WALKER and STEPHENS detailed. Captain D. L. A. PAINE to proceed with Platoons to see operations commenced. The two Platoons to be under instruction of Officer Commanding 12th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
6.30 pm. The two Platoons left to report to KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
Considerable enemy artillery and trench mortar activity on front during the night. Weather throughout the day clear and sunny. Night – sharp frost.
The War Diary records: 24 Mar-1918 – 5.30 am. Verbal order through an Orderly Officer of 60th Infantry Brigade to furnish a further 100 men for duty with previous platoons detailed for duty under KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
6.00 am. 2 Platoons, “W” Company and 2 “X” Company under --- left.
8.30 am. Reports received enemy breaking through on right. Troops seen withdrawing. This continued throughout the morning. Troops of 20th Division continually falling back towards our lines, also MACHINE GUN COMPANY. As far as possible these were reassembled and sent forward again.
9.00 am. Under instructions of Brigadier General Commanding 182nd Infantry Brigade 2 Platoons under Captain TONKS A. E. and Lieutenant H. H. DUCKWORTH were ordered forward to hold the ridge.
11.00 am. Enemy appeared to be gaining a footing along 20th Division front. His artillery and trench mortar fire was becoming much heavier and the retirement of our infantry more marked.
1.45 pm. The 11th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS on our left front also now, showed signs of withdrawing and by 12 noon were coming back on our front in numbers, for, what to me appeared little reason. I ordered Major WATERWORTH forward to order them to return to their positions and got into communicating with the Officer Commanding of that Battalion pointing out the extreme danger of that flank being left open. The Battalion returned to their position and for security I pushed out “Y” Company under Captain PROSSER A. L. to occupy position I had previously prepared to safeguard my flank in that direction.
By this time the enemy were in some strength on this flank and the Company sent forward were able to get good Lewis Gun targets upon them. The enemy artillery now lengthened its range and kept our line under well directed fire.
Officer Commanding 12th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS informed me that he was preparing to withdraw. I accordingly made my arrangements for a Rear Guard action in accordance with previous orders received from 182nd Infantry Brigade to withdraw.
The following is the action taken by the Company under Captain D. L. A. PAINE, M.C. which was detached for duty under orders of 12th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
No sign of the enemy was found in CAZIGNY so posts were established and patrols sent out well to the front of it.
At 9.00 am on the 24th March, after a heavy barrage the enemy attacked CAZIGNY and the advanced troops were forced to retire. The Company was on the right flank of the 12th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS and their flank was unprotected.
A counter attack by two Companies of KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS was made upon the village after it fell into the enemy’s hands and Captain D. L. A. PAINE’S Company supported the attack.
The enemy in the meantime had worked round our right flank and eventually the line was forced to retire under repeated enemy attacks which were preceded by heavy artillery fire.
Captain D. L. A. PAINE’S Company remained until the last and were the last troops to leave at this time of the retirement. The Officer Commanding 12th KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS expressed his appreciation of the good services rendered by this Company and that of Captain TONKS which in the latter phase of the engagement had been engaged, Captain TONKS being wounded.
3.25 pm. The withdrawal upon the Corps front commenced.
My right flank was close to HOMBLEUX and upon the information that that village was not being defended I did not consider it sound to make any stand on such a line. The withdrawal was carried out without any great resistance being offered to the enemy and we received little enemy artillery or Machine Gun fire whilst carrying it out. Casualties were slight.
4.30 pm. Battalion marched to BRUILLE and received orders to proceed to MOYENCOURT.
5.00 pm. Arrived MOYENCOURT and occupied trenches etc., as Reserve Battalion to Brigade.
Fine clear day, - clear frost night.
APPROXIMATE CASUALIES Officers. Other ranks.
Covered by Casualty Return shown on 22nd March 1918.
APPENDIX 4
Officer Casualties
KILLED:
Lieutenant H. H. DUCKWORTH, 24/3/18.
Lieutenant D. MAC IVER, 24/3/18.
Captain G. L. GRAHAM, 22/3/18.
Captain L. A. EDWARDS (Missing believed killed), 22/3/18.
WOUNDED:
2nd Lieutenant W. E. LOVEJOY, 21/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant R. C. GOODWILL, 22/3/18.
Lieutenant A. L. TOSLAND, 21/3/18.
Captain and Adjutant C. LA TROBE, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant A. C. DEVERILL, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant C. SUTTON, 22/3/18.
Captain A. A. ROGERS, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant W. E. GUNTER, 22/3/18.
Captain A. E. TONKS, 24/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant P. S. POWELL, 24/3/18.
Lieutenant S. WALKER, 24/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant D. GRAMMAR, 24/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant E. LLOYD, 28/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant D. C. JONES, 28/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant L. FARRAR, 30/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant J. GREAVES, 30/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant R. O. LUNT, 30/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant P. N. GIBBS, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant T. K. GLEDHILL, 22/3/18.
WOUNDED AND MISSING:
2nd Lieutenant R. H. ADAMS, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant D. PITT, 24/3/18.
MISSING:
2nd Lieutenant H. V. DAVIES, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant A. R. JONES, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant W. J. MOON, 22/3/18.
2nd Lieutenant A. H. CHANCE, 22/3/18.
WOUNDED AND RETURNED TO DUTY:
2nd Lieutenant T. F. STRAWSON (Wounded), 31/3/18. (At duty), 31/3/18.
R.A.M.C. ATTACHED:
Captain J. MANUEL (Medical Officer), 30/3/18.
APPENDIX 5.
Casualty State.
OFFICERS.
Killed, 4
Wounded, 19.
Wounded and Missing, 4
Wounded and returned to duty, 1.
Medical Officer attached also wounded.
OTHER RANKS.
Killed, 14
Wounded, 198.
Missing, 276.
Total 488.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Family memorial at Huncote cemetery says 'reported missing March 1917'.
Information from S Kallaste, 12/04/23