Pte 29186 Edward John Greener

• Age: 17
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 17th July 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: A.27.28

Edward John Greener born on the 30^th January 1899 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, the son of Samuel Hughes and his wife Mary (nee Hughes), who married in 1898.  Samuel, a brewer's labourer, was from Liverpool, and Mary from County Tyrone, Ireland.  Edward was the eldest of seven children, three of whom died young; his surviving siblings were Winifred, Samuel, and Joseph. Edward was baptised in St. Patrick’s Church, Liverpool, on 19^th February 1899. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at House Court, 11, Blair Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father, Samuel, is aged 23, born in Liverpool in 1878 is a railway porter, his mother, Minnie, is aged 24, born in Ireland in 1877 with no occupation listed. They have two children at the time of the Census, Eddy aged 2, born 1899 and Winifred born in 1901. Both children were born in Liverpool.  

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 57 Upper Stanhope Street Liverpool. His father, Samuel now shown as aged 30, (Year of birth now showing as 1881) is a brewer’s labourer and his wife Mary is aged 33, (showing as born in 1878) with no occupation listed and was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. They have been married for thirteen years and have had seven children of which three had died. Their children are Edward aged 12, Winifred aged 10 and Samuel aged 6, born 1905 are at school and Joseph is aged 2, born 1909.  

Before enlisting, Edward worked for Liverpool Tramways.

When he enlisted in May 1915, Edward was just sixteen years old and must have lied about his age in order to serve overseas. He served as Private 29186, 19^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.

After training in the UK, Edward was sent to France in January 1916, when the battalion was in the Somme line at Carnoy and later in the front line at Maricourt. 

It was reported that Edward was wounded on the 01^st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The 19th Battalion Diary records the events of the day as follows:

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.

Edward was evacuated to the 1^st Australian General Hospital in Rouen, and succumbed to his wounds on 17^th July, at the age of 17. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 20^th July 1916: 

“The death is announced of Private Edward John Greener, who joined the Pals in May 1915, and went out to France in January of this year. He died from wounds received July 1^st.   He was just seventeen years of age, and prior to the war was employed in the Liverpool Corporation Tramways.   He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Greener, of 61 Upper Stanhope Street.”

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery in Rouen.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Mary.

His father died, aged 37, in February 1917. 

His family remembered him one year later, on 16^th July 1917:

 “In sad but loving memory of my dear son, Private Edward John Greener, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment (Pals), who died of wounds in France, July 17, 1916. 

Our sorrow was great, our loss hard to bear,

God knows we have lost a fond brother’s care;

We mourn him and miss him in silence unseen,

And dwell on the memory of days that have been.

(Fondly remembered by Mother, Aunt, Brothers, and Sister.)”

Edward earned the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is commemorated on Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 47 Left.

We currently have no further information on Edward John Greener, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.