Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alderman Samuel Lennard J.P., Mayor of Leicester 1900-01, a boot and shoe manufacturer, born on the 5th June 1851 in Leicester and his wife Annie Eliza Lennard (nee Wood, married in the 2nd quarter of 1899 in the Leicester district), born 1864 in Leicester and who was the eldest daughter of Sir Edward Wood Kt. Edward Wood was born in in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in Leicester, his siblings were, Eveline Annie, born 1890, Kathleen Mary, born 1893 and Samuel Frederic was born on the 5th August 1894, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 14, West Walk, Leicester. On the 14th September 1901 in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, Edward’s father died aged 50. In April 1911 Edward, a boot manufacturer was residing at Shirley Lodge, Shirley Road, Leicester, this being the family home of his maternal Grandfather, Edward Wood, living on private means, born 1839 in Derby, also residing in his Grandfather’s home was his widowed mother, living on private means, and his siblings Eveline, a student and Kathleen, a student.
The War Diary records: 30 Nov-17 – PASSCHENDAELE. Relieved 2nd DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT. PASSCHENDAELE sector. Headquarters MEETCHEELE, two Companies in line “C” and “D”, “A” and “B” in close support. Aid Post, MOSELMARKT. 2nd Lieutenant WILKIE wounded – died of wounds at 8.30pm at SOMME POINT. Captain PATTERSON wounded between SOMME POINT and WATERLOO. Captain ROBB wounded during relief. 2nd Lieutenant LENNARD on taking command of “C” Company was wounded during reconnaissance at TEAL COTTAGE. Heavy shell fire on line and supports between dusk and midnight. 16 other ranks killed, 30 wounded. Moved from HASLAR CAMP, ST. JEAN, by platoons about 3.30pm via WIELTJE and plank road, and occupied a sector of line North East of PASSCHENDAELE, taking over the line, from the 6th Battalion RIFLE BRIGADE, 32nd Division. At about 5.30pm the Battalion came under fire of enemy heavies on plank road East of SOMME REDOUBT, Captain W. R. L. PATTERSON, Officer Commanding “A” Company, and 2nd Lieutenant A. B. WILKIE being wounded. The latter died of wounds at about 8.30pm. About 30 other ranks were killed and wounded, “C” Company suffering rather heavily. Officer Commanding “C” Company, Captain G. C. ROBB was wounded before the line was reached, and several other casualties sustained. On taking over the line it was found that the right post (TEAL COTTAGE) of the Division on our left, and with which it was “C” Company’s duty to maintain contact, had been lost during the afternoon and was strongly held by enemy with machine guns, 2nd Lieutenant E. W. LENNARD, who had been sent to command “C” Company, was mortally wounded in a reconnaissance with a view to the retaking of TEAL COT. The Battalion was disposed in the line as follows:- “D” and “C” Companies in front line posts, and “B” and “D” in close support. Battalion Headquarters was in pill box at MEETCHEELE and Aid Post at MOSELMARKT.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour in which Edward is shown to have been a pupil at the school between the years 1902 and 1906.