Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick William Langdale, a bank manager, born 1847 in East Hoathley, Sussex and his wife Ada Maria Langdale (nee Jones, married in the April quarter of 1880 in the Kensington, Middlesex district), born 1858 in Tintern, Monmouthshire, Wales. Edward George was born in the January quarter of 1883 in Notting Hill, Middlesex, in April 1891 the family home was at South Park, Hill Road, Croydon, Surrey. In March 1901 Edward was residing in the family home at 31, South Park, Hill Road, Croydon, together with his father, a bank manager and his mother. In April 1911 Edward was absent from the family home at 31, South Park, Hill Road, Croydon, residing there was his father, a bank manager and his mother. Latterly Edward’s parents had resided at Kingston on Thames, Surrey, and then at 17, Earl’s Court Square, London S.W. Edward was married on the 6th August 1914 to Dora Janet, the daughter of George Edward, a butcher and grazier, and Mary Louisa Barnett of Berwyn, Oakham, Rutland, he left an infant daughter, Sheila C. Langdale, born in the July quarter of 1915.
Edward was educated at Eastbourne College and Merton College, Oxford where he graduated with honours. He was captain of his school cricket eleven for two years, and captain for one year of his college boat, and rowed once in the Merton Eight at Henley. At the outbreak of war, he was an assistant master at Oakham School and had, had considerable experience as an officer in command of the O.T.C. there, and previously at King Edward VII School in Sheffield. After enlisting he received his commission to Lieutenant on the 5th August 1914, embarking for France on the 22nd February 1915, he was almost immediately slightly wounded while in the trenches. In September he was gazetted Captain, this was back dated to the 3rd July. During an action on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, when leading his men in an attack on the German line he received a bullet to the head and died instantly. The record states that the bombing attacks went on with varied fortunes, a company of the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment bombing its way for more than two hundred yards up “Little Willie” Trench before its supplies ran out and it had to retire. A number of mixed units were crowded into the redoubt all under heavy fire and at one time the men, finding themselves practically without officers, began to fall back, but were splendidly rallied by Colonel Evill of the 1st Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment, and a few other survivors. The advent of two companies of the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment retaining their disciplined order helped to avert the danger, and the line was formed again along the western face of the redoubt. Another account says: - “By the time they reached the front line the company commander (Captain Langdale) was leading them himself. Walking along with his pipe in his mouth, Captain Langdale might have been at a Field Day, as he calmly signalled his right platoon to keep up in line, with “keep it up, Oakham,” as they crossed our trench. The line was kept, and so perfectly that many of the stragglers who had come back turned and went forward again with them. But once more as they were reaching the German front line came that deadly machine gun fire, and their gallant commander was one of the first to fall, killed with a bullet in the head.” His Colonel writes: - “We feel we have lost a fine man and an excellent officer. His duty was to lead his men to the attack and no men were better led, or went more willingly under such a commander.”
On Saturday August 8th 1914, The Grantham Journal published the following article under the heading. “INTERESTING WEDDING AT OAKHAM.” – BRIDEGROOM AT ONCE STARTS FOR THE WAR. – Quite a local touch of romance associates itself with the great war now in progress in Europe by the marriage at All Saints’ Church, Oakham, on Thursday last, at midday, of Mr. Edward George Langdale, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fredk. Langdale, of Kingston on Thames, who has been a Master at Oakham School, and Miss Dora Janet Barnett, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. E. Barnett, of Berwyn, Oakham. It had been intended that the wedding should take place on Wednesday next, but Mr. Langdale, who has had charge of the Officers’ Training Corps at Oakham School, volunteered and accepted a commission as Lieutenant in the Oakham Company of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and directly after the ceremony he left for Loughborough, the headquarters of the Battalion, to which the Rutland Company had been ordered. Under the circumstances, many friends who would otherwise have been present were unable to be notified of the change of plans, and the Rev. J. W. Marsh, of Knighton, a former curate of Oakham, who was to have performed the nuptials, was not able to attend, owing to the short notice, his place being taken by the Rev. C. J. R. Scriven, Rector of Manton. The service was choral in character, the choir attending, and the hymns sung were “The Voice that Breathed o’er Eden,” “Oh perfect Love,” and “Love Divine.” Mr. Morton presided at the organ, and after the ceremony played Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” The bride, who was given away by her father, was dressed in white satin, with wreath of orange blossom and veil, and carried a bouquet of roses, carnations and lilies. The bridesmaids were Miss Edith and Miss Olive Barnett (sisters of the bride), who wore yellow crèpe de chine frocks with blue sashes, and white hats, their bouquets being composed of carnations. There were two pages, Master John Hassan and Miss Enid Hassan, who were attired in Kate Greenaway costumes, in yellow and blue. The best man was Mr. Pullinger, who has been appointed to a Master ship at Oakham School, and Mr. A. B. Phillips acted as groomsman. A reception was subsequently held at Berwyn, when as many guests as could be advised under the circumstances were present, everything however, being of course, of a hurried and informal nature. The bridegroom changed into his khaki uniform, and later left with the bride for Loughborough, where he joined his Company. The presents received by both Mr. and Mrs. Langdale were very numerous and valuable.
The War Diary records: The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front-line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1st/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty-four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1st/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and thirty-two wounded and twenty-two gassed.
On Tuesday, December 21st, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page seven, under the heading. – Capt. E. G. Langdale. – Capt. Edward George Langdale, 5th Battn. Leicester Regt., of Frampton, Beaufort-road, Kingston-on-Thames, assistant master at Oakham School, who rowed for Merton College in their eight at Henley, and was captain of the school eleven at Eastbourne College, killed in action in France on Oct. 13, left property of the value of £253 16s. 11d.
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Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photo attached from ‘Rutland and the Great War’ by George Phillips, published in 1920; via Claire Gibson and the Rutland Remembers team - www.rutlandremembers.org