Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Herbert Gretton, a railway platelayer, born in the October quarter of 1861 in Bingham, Nottinghamshire (son of William Gretton, 1833-1917 and Mary Ann Smith, 1839-1881) and his wife Emma Gretton (nee Newton, married on the 19th February 1883 in All Hallows Church, Gedling, Nottinghamshire), born in the April quarter of 1854 in Carlton, Nottinghamshire and baptised on the 4th June 1854 in All Hallows Church, Gedling (daughter of William Newton, 1835 and Harriet, Shephard, 1837). Edwin was born on the 9th February 1894 and baptised on the 29th April 1897 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows, Nottinghamshire, his siblings were, Herbert William, born on the 4th September 1884 in Carlton and baptised on the 10th May 1885 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows, Sarah Jane, born on the 7th June 1887 and baptised on the 17th April 1889 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows, George, born on the 28th January 1889 and baptised on the 17th April 1889 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows, Eliza, born on the 15th October 1890 and baptised on the 22nd November 1890 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows, William, born on the 22nd April 1892 and baptised on the 29th April 1897 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows and Harold, born on the 7th January 1898, the latter five siblings were all born in Carlton, in March 1901 the family home was at 6, Harrington Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Edwin was employed as a boot and shoe trade stamper and was residing in the family home at 33, Bardolph Street, Leicester, together with his father, a permanent way inspector, his mother and siblings, Eliza, a boot and shoe trade machinist, William, a boot and shoe trade worker and Harold, a schoolboy. Edwin also had the following siblings, John Newton, born in the January quarter of 1876 in Carlton and baptised on the 25th August 1876 in All Hallows Church, Gedling and Robert, born on the 10th February 1886 in Carlton and baptised on the 2nd January 1887 in St. Paul’s Church, Carlton in the Willows. Edwin’s older brother George fell in action on the 25th September 1915.
Edwin’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested. In Leicester.
Allotted. Service number. 2489.
Posted. 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry. Pte.
First entered the theatre of war in. France. 27/5/15.
Joined. 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry, 7th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division.
Under the Army Council Instruction of 1917 that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, he was allotted the service number 255456.
Transferred. To 8th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division. 11/17.
Transferred. To become a Cyclist Unit.
Changed. To become a Machine Gun Battalion and amalgamated with the North Somerset Yeomanry.
Changed. To become a Mounted unit and returned to the Cavalry Corps. 3/18.
Regiment disbanded. All four Squadrons posted respectively to 4th Hussars, 5th and 16th Lancers and 2/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry. 4/4/18.
Posted. To 5th Royal Irish Lancers. 4/4/18
Killed in action. 10/11/18.
Buried in Jemappes Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Edwin’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of six shillings to commence on the 27th May 1919.
The War Diary records: 10 Nov-18 – THULIN – On the night of 9th/10th orders were received from 3rd Canadian Division that the Regiment would move at 4.00am (10th) in a North Easterly direction across the canal for the purposes of operating with and protecting the left flank of the Canadian Brigade. The Regiment (less “C” Squadron) and 1 section “D” Battery ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY, duly moved off at 4.00am “D” Squadron providing the advance guard. The canal was successfully crossed at 4.30am and a march continued without opposition through VILLE POMMEROUEL – HAUTRAGE – TERTRE to DOUVRIN. A halt was here occasioned to make a passage through the bridge under the railway line which was found partly blown up by the enemy. While the working party was engaged the line was heavily shelled with High Explosive and gas. Passage being effected the Regiment continued the march, “D” Squadron still maintaining advance guard, to LONG CORAN. A message came in here to the head of the column from Officer Commanding advance guard that he was in touch with the enemy at GHLIN. The Commanding Officer accordingly halted the main body and sent word to Officer Commanding advance guard to endeavour to push on; that Headquarters was established at LONG CORAN where reports were to be sent. In the meanwhile, an Officer patrol consisting of one troop of “A” Squadron was sent out to left of GHLIN to reconnoitre gain touch and engage the enemy if necessary. The Commanding Officer then proceeded to JEMAPPES to report situation to 7th Canadian Brigade. Simultaneously with the Commanding Officers return reports came in from both advance guard and Officers patrol that they had encountered the enemy and were forcing him to retire, also from Officer in charge of patrol that the Infantry of 8th Corps were moving through him. In consequence this patrol was withdrawn. Headquarters, “A” Squadron and “D” Battery then withdrew to JEMAPPES. By this time the shelling by the enemy of GHLIN – JEMAPPES Road had developed considerably and during this withdrawal the Regiment suffered a number of casualties. On arrival at JEMAPPES. Regimental Headquarters, “A” Squadron and 1 section of “D” Battery ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY went into billets. At 5.00pm the advance guard was relieved by the Canadian Infantry and subsequently withdrew into billets at JEMAPPES.
FRAMERIES – “C” Squadron in the meanwhile acting on the direct orders of 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved into billets.
CASUALTIES
KILLED IN ACTION.
1 Other Rank. 10/11/18.
1 Other Rank. 11/11/18.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
1 Other Rank. 10/11/18.
WOUNDED IN ACTION.
Lieutenant B. J. HARDMAN. 10/11/18.
Lieutenant W. A. T. FLEURY. 10/11/18.
16 Other Ranks. 10/11/18.
DIED FROM SICKNESS.
1 Other Rank. 22/10/18.
1 Other Rank. 5/11/18.
1 Other Rank. 12/11/18.