Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Carr a boot factory foreman, born 1851 in Leicester and his wife Henrietta, born 1853 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. Edgar was born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in Evington, Leicester, his siblings were, Horace, born in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in Leicester and Stanley, born 1890 in Newfoundpool, Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Wilford House, Orange Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Edgar was employed as a hosiery trade packer and was residing in the family home at 25, Orange Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a boot manufacturer’s foreman, his mother and siblings, Horace, a shoe trade riveter and Stanley, a hosiery trade packer. In April 1911 Edgar was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 71, Haddenham Road, Leicester, together with his father a boot manufacturer’s foreman, his mother and brother Stanley, a boot trade clicker. His elder brother Horace also fell in action.
Edgar attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 28th July 1908 in South Wigston, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Leicester, his age as 20 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as hosiery hand, his current employer being Messrs. Bates & Co., South Wigston. He gave his home address as 51, Mountcastle Road, Leicester. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he had served in “A” Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He gave his next of kin as his father Joseph Carr of 51, Mountcastle Road, Leicester, later changed to his mother Henrietta Carr of 51, Danvers Road, Leicester. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 35 inches. His vision was described as normal and his physical development as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 28th July 1908 in South Wigston, Leicestershire. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 676 on the 28/7/08. Posted to the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 28/7/08. Attended Garendon Park for annual training on the 2/8/08 – 9/8/08. Attended High Tor Farm for annual training on the 1/8/09 – 15/8/09. Attended Hindlow for annual training on the 13/7/10 – 14/8/10. Attended High Tor Farm for annual training on the 6/8/11 – 20/8/11. Re-engaged for two years on the 6/11/11. Absent with leave from the annual training at Aberytswyth Camp in 1912. Attended Grantham for annual training, and promoted to Lance Corporal on the 3/8/13 – 10/8/13. Re-engaged for two years on the 27/2/14. Promoted to Corporal on the 30/4/14. Embodied service commenced on the 5/8/14. Promoted to Lance Sergeant on the 10/8/14. Appointed acting Sergeant in the field on the 2/4/15. Admitted to Rest Camp on the 23/5/15. Reverted to Corporal at own request on the 7/9/15. Killed in action on the 13/10/15. A summary of his service records, Home Service, 28/7/08 – 1/3/15, 6 years 217 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 13/10/15, 226 days. Total service 7 years 78 days. Edgar was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Edgar’s father Joseph Carr on the 23rd October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by F. -?- Scott, Clerk in Holy Orders, The Red House, Fosse Road South, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Joseph Carr of 51, Danvers Road, Leicester. Mother of soldier, Henrietta Carr of 51, Danvers Road, Leicester. Full blood brother of soldier, Stanley Carr, age 30 of 40, Aylestone Lane, Wigston. Edgar’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battn assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lt Col R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brig Gen KEMP. All officers of the Battn either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battn was relieved by part of the 139th Bde and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1st/4th Battn Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Bde 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Bde 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Saturday May 22nd 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” - GAME TO THE LAST. – Sergeant E. Carr, of C Company, first 4th Leicesters, writing to his father, Mr. J. Carr, 51, Danvers Road, Leicester, refers to the death of Captain Haylock, and pays a high tribute to his bravery. He says; “Last night (Monday, May 10th) it was very quiet in the firing line until about 11.30pm, when some of the Germans crept up to one of the trenches and dropped some bombs there. Soon after it was hell upon earth, for we thought we were going to be attacked. I am very sorry to say their bomb killed one of our officers and a sergeant, and wounded several other non-commissioned officers and men. No doubt you will soon know who this officer was. He was very popular with the men, and we are all grieved to know that he is dead. He was badly hurt, but he was game to the last, telling the men not to let the Germans take the trenches.”