EDWIN GARNETT BATTY
1878 - 17 May 1917
At School 1889 - 1893
Gunner 137656 123rd Bty 28th Bde Royal Field Artillery
Edwin was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and in 1891 was living at 18 High Lane, Chorlton, with father James, a watchmaker and jeweller, mother Ellen, two elder sisters and four brothers. On leaving school Edwin entered the family firm of W Batty & Sons Limited, Jewellers of Manchester and Liverpool. By 1911 Edwin had left the family home and moved to 6 Derwent Avenue, West Didsbury, with sister Emily. His occupation was described at that time as "Jeweller, Silversmith (Dealer)". He had become a director of the company by the time of his enlistment in the army.
It is likely that Edwin was conscripted into the Royal Field Artillery in late 1916 and after training was posted to the 28th Brigade, 123rd Battery, part of the British 5th Division. In early 1917 the Division was attached to the 2nd Division Canadian Expeditionary Force and took part in the successful actions at Vimy Ridge, between 9th and 12th April 1917. The Brigade was in the forefront of the action, Major

Lutyens of the 123rd later claiming he was the first to get his Battery over Vimy Ridge. Following the capture of the Ridge the Canadians consolidated their defences and the Battery were in support in the Thelus area, shelling the enemy's forward and rear positions from the high ground. In the days that followed there were attacks and counter attacks as the opposing forces

jockeyed for supremacy in the front line and artillery bombardments continued to harass the front and rear areas on both sides. The Germans had retreated to the Oppy- Mericourt Line, some 4 to 5 miles behind their original positions, which was attracting particular attention from the British and Canadian Artillery,
often with captured guns and ammunition as they had moved out of range of many of the battery positions set up at the beginning of the action. On April 28th 1917 orders were given to the Canadian 2nd Division to continue the destruction of the Oppy-Mericourt Line and the 123rd Battery was moved forward to positions in front of Arleux and Fresnoy. On 3rd May the Infantry attacked and reached Fresnoy, the War Diary of the R.A. Canadian Corps recording on 5th May: " Our Artillery has been active harassing

enemy roads, approaches and batteries with gas shells and shrapnel, and also bombarding enemy batteries with both aeroplane and ground observation. The results of these bombardments have been satisfactory though observation has been hampered by the ground haze. The enemy has been given a liberal dose of hos own shells, both gas and ordinary, and one of his batteries was silenced by the fire of captured guns. Under present conditions there is much movement overland to be seen in the back country, and many targets have been taken on both by field and heavy guns with satisfactory results." On 8th May the Germans retook Fresnoy and the Infantry pulled back to a position between Arleux and Fresnoy. Shelling from both sides continued but this had quietened down by mid May. On 17th May the War Diary of the 5th Canadian Field Artillery, located near the 123rd Battery reported: "Enemy quiet. Batteries lightly shelled." The Canadian Corps War
Diary recorded: " Thelus shelled with H. V. Gun." Three men from the 123rd Battery were killed that day, including Edwin. It is likely that they were hit by shrapnel or H. E. shell, but their bodies were recovered and identified. Edwin was reported killed in action and buried in Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus, with one of his comrades from the Battery, who had died of wounds. It is possible that Edwin died while being transported from the lines to the Casualty Clearing Station at Thelus.
.Probate was granted on 7 August 1917 to Harry Batty jeweller and Emily Louise Batty spinster. Effects £5,911 15s 1d.