Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Alma, Jarvis, a coal miner, born in the April quarter of 1855 in Thurnby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 22nd December 1855 in St. Luke’s Church, Thurnby (son of William Jarvis, 1816-1885 and Mary Goddard, 1819) and his wife Frances Elizabeth Jarvis (nee Cliff, married in the January quarter of 1883 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born in the April quarter of 1860 in Coalville, Leicestershire (daughter of John Cliff, 1832 and Mary Ann Bordicott, 1832). Edward was born in the October quarter of 1888 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John William, born in the April quarter of 1886 and Mary Ellen, born in the January quarter of 1891, both his siblings were born in Whitwick, in April 1891 the family home was at Alma Villas, Silver Street, Whitwick. In March 1901 Edward was residing in the family home at Hermitage Road, Whitwick, together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, John a wagon works driller, Louisa, born in the January quarter of 1894, Annie Elizabeth, born in the April quarter of 1896, Thomas Henry, born in the April quarter of 1899 and Joseph Alma, born in the July quarter of 1900, the latter four siblings were all born in Whitwick, also residing in the family home was Edward’s maternal aunt, Fanny Harriet Cliff, an elastic trade web weaver, born in the July quarter of 1872 in Coalville. In April 1911 Edward was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at Hermitage Road, Whitwick, together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, William, a brickworks labourer, Louisa, a weaver, Annie, a winder, Thomas, a schoolboy and Joseph, a schoolboy.
The Brigade of Guards service records all exist, but were deposited in 2018 with the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow, the exception being the Scots Guards, whose service records are now in the possession of the Trustees of the Scots Guards Charitable Trust, and are free to access. The remainder of the Foot Guards records are available at the current cost of £30.00 per inquiry (2019).
Edward’s army service enlistment documents have not been researched, therefore all 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 Coalville, Leicestershire. Date not known.
Allotted. Service number. 18965.
Posted. To 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 22nd June 1915.
Killed in action on the 17th October 1915.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 3rd July 1916, Edward’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings, to commence on the 4th July 1916.
The War Diary records: 17 Oct-15 – Bombing attack by No.3 Company from FOSSE TRENCH towards SLAG ALLEY. 2nd Lieutenant ALEXANDER and CHARTERIS killed. Captain WAKEMAN, Lieutenant FRENCH and Lieutenant St. AUBYN wounded.
On Saturday, November 6th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jarvis, of 88, Hermitage-road, Whitwick, have received official information that their son serving in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France, on October 17. He was a single man, and enlisted about 12 months ago. He worked at Snibston Colliery, and was about 23 years of age.
On Tuesday, November 9th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. E. JARVIS, 1st Grenadiers, was killed in action October 17th. His parents live at 88, Hermitage-road, Whitwick.
On Saturday, November 13th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. LEICESTERS: FALLEN OR MISSING - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. E. JARVIS, 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards, killed in action 17th Oct., 1915. His parents live at 88, Hermitage-road, Whitwick.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 12th, 1915

Fallen Whitwick Soldiers

Another Whitwick soldier who has made the supreme sacrifice is Pte. Edward Jarvis, of the 1st Grenadier Guards, whose parents live at 88, Hermitage Road. His father, Mr Thomas Jarvis, is a collier at the Whitwick pit, but for about 12 months has been at home ill. The deceased soldier formerly worked at the Snibston Colliery and was a single man, 27 years of age. He joined the army about 13 months ago and had been four months at the front.

The official news of his death was received from the War Office on Thursday, this stating that he was killed in action on October 17th. The bereaved relatives had been prepared for this by a letter dated October 20th, received from Pte. B. Barker, of the same regiment, who wrote:

“Dear Friend – It is with deep regret that I have to write this letter to you. I am writing on behalf of myself and the section to let you know that Ted Jarvis was killed in action last Sunday morning in an attack we made. Dear friend, believe me, you have the deepest respect of the whole platoon. Poor chap, he was liked by us all, but you all have one consolation, he died like a true Englishman fighting for his country. Will you please inform his parents of this painful fact. I don’t know your name, but I think this will find you. Will you let me know if this reaches you. – Believe me, yours sincerely.”

B. Barker

The letter was addressed to ‘Harry, 155, Brooks Lane, Whitwick, Leicestershire,’ this being the address of a friend of the deceased which his comrade apparently found upon him.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 15th, 1918

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WHITWICK

TABLET IN HOLY CROSS CHURCH

The Bishop of Nottingham, the Rev. Father Dunn, unveiled a memorial tablet in the Whitwick Holy Cross Church, on Sunday containing the names of 12 men, formerly connected with the church, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the war. The names and dates each recorded on small square bronze plates, and fixed on the tablet in three columns, are as follows:

Private James Cairns, Connaught Rangers, killed in action, August 21st, 1915.
Private A. C. Johnstone, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, September 1st, 1915.
Sapper B. Whittaker, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 25th, 1915.
Private Edward Jarvis, Grenadier Guards, killed in action, October 17th, 1915.
Private Ed Hunt, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, January 7th, 1916.
Private C. Stanford, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, July 14th, 1916.
Private Jos. Sheffield, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 26th, 1916.
Lance-Corporal B. Morley, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, April 23rd, 1917.
Private Harold Edwin Ketcher, 12th Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action, June 16th, 1917
Corporal A. Concannon, M.M. Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, July 31st, 1917.
Private William Beasley, 1st Leicesters, killed in action, September 11th, 1917.
Rifleman L. Haywood, Scottish Rifles, torpedoed at sea, December 30th, 1917.

The tablet, which is surmounted by a crucifix, reads, “In memory of our devoted heroes who fell in the great war. Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of (names)”.

At the foot appear the words, “May they rest in peace.” Space is left for the addition of any further names if this becomes necessary. There was a large congregation, including the relatives of the deceased soldiers, and after the unveiling, a memorial service was held. This was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly, assisted by Father Degan of Coalville, and the Bishop preached the sermon.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 10/09/2017