At the time of his enrolment in the First World War, he was 5ft 9 ¾, girth 38 inches, and weight 142 lbs and his trade was as a Planter (in Ceylon).
He had previously been in the Ceylon Rifles (Vol) which he resigned from in 1911 and was now living at Bramley Grange near Guildford.
He first enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers as a Private in the First World War aged 28 on the 22nd December 1914. He was then in the Royal West Kent from 18/1/1915 to
31/12/1915. He then received a commission as a Captain in the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment on
the 5th December 1915.
He married Gwendoline Samuels of Eden Field, Llanfairfechan, on the 6th April 1916 at All Saints,
Margaret Street, Marylebone. The witnesses were her father John Samuels (Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery who won the Victoria Cross according to Burke’s peerage) and his mother Florence Burr. The clergyman was his step-father Arthur J Burr. He returned to the Front on the 13th April and the same month was killed by a shell at 9.30pm on the Canal bank near Ypres on the 30th April 1916.
He is buried in the middle of La Brique cemetery No. 2, near St Jean, 1½ miles North East of Ypres.
Grave Ref: I. N. 22
Probate:
Wellesley, Edmond Ernest Charles of Bramley Grange near Guildford captain 9th Norfolk regiment died 30 April 1916 in France. Administration (with Will) London 26 July to Gwendolyn Wellesley widow. Effects £221 17s. 6d.
Biography see:
http://www.stanwardine.com/genepic/Edmond_Wellesley.pdf (Ref 2C/156)
