Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Brown Shouler, an auctioneer, born 1844 in Woburn, Bedfordshire and his wife Isabel Mary Shouler (nee Hill, married in the 2nd quarter of 1879 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. district), born 1861 in Ross, Herefordshire. Edward James Battams was was born on the 9th September 1885 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were Alfred John, a schoolboy, born 1885 in Melton Mowbray and William Russell born 1890, in Stathern, Leicestershire. In April 1891 the family home was at Plungar Road, Stathern. In April 1911 Edward was serving as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and was stationed at Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, his family home was at Maulden Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Alfred, a bank clerk, Isabel Marguerite, born 1886 in Melton Mowbray and William, an apprentice with the Mercantile Marine. Edward entered into the Royal Navy as a Supplementary Lieutenant on the 1st April 1913, his service record began when he joined HMS Victory, 1/6/14 – 1/8/14. HMS Andromache, 1/8/14 – 16/4/15. HMS Attentive for HMS Viking, 16/4/15 – 29/1/16, when he was killed by a mine explosion in the Straits of Dover. The background relating to the circumstances in which Edward lost his life are as follows; During the First World War HMS Viking served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla. She was damaged after hitting a mine off Boulogne on the 29th January 1916 whilst convoying troops to France. There were 10 casualties as follows:- ANDERSON, James, Chief Artificer Engineer, BLOODWORTH, Stephen J, Ordinary Seaman, SS 6214 (PO), BURGESS, Henry J, Officer's Steward 2c, L 1158 (PO), CROCKFORD, Charles T, Able Seaman, J 624 (PO), EGGLESTONE, John, Ordinary Seaman, J 40596 (PO), MILLER, Albert T, Leading Stoker, 312123 (PO), SHOULER, Edward J B, Lieutenant, TENNYSON, Hon. Harold C, Act/Sub Lieutenant, WILLIAMS, Thomas C H, Commander, one man died of his injuries the next day.
On Friday February 4th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL NAVAL OFFICER KILLED. The list of casualties announced by the Admiralty on Wednesday stated that Lieut. Edward John Battams Shouler was killed on January 29th. He was the second son of the late Mr. John B. Shouler (brother of Mr. William Shouler, of Melton Mowbray), and was born in this town, where he spent his early boyhood days. Subsequently deceased moved with his parents to Stathern, and later to Bedford, and was educated at the Grammar School in that town. After leaving school he joined the Navy, and on the outbreak of war was on the Andromache, which was engaged in mine laying. Later deceased was transferred to Viking, a torpedo destroyer, on which he was second in command to Commander Evans, who was married last week, and Lieut. Shouler was to have been his best man. His younger brother Russell Shouler, is also in the Navy. Lieut. Shouler was about 32 years of age. General sympathy will be extended to the bereaved mother and relatives.