Isaiah Edgerton, Age 21

Private, 19530, 7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

Isaiah was the third son of Mr & Mrs A R Edgerton of 12 Dark Lane Row, Malinslee.

He was working for the Malinslee Ballast Works and enlisted in January 1916, Isaiah was also a Scholar at the Dark Lane Primitive Methodist Sunday School.

Whilst in the army he had gained distinction as a bomb thrower (Grenades), Isaiah was killed in action on the 14th July 1916 at the battle of Bazentin Ridge during which the British forces had crept out of their trenches and assembled in no-mans- land during the night. When an artillery barrage finished they attacked at first light (approx 4.00am) and overwhelmed the German defences before they could react properly.

Further to Isaiah, Mr and Mrs Edgerton had three other sons serving, Jack in Salonika, Ben in France and Enoch who was reported missing in action in April 1918 but I could find no trace of an E. Edgerton as been killed. I had trouble trying to figure this out as an E. Edgerton is listed on the Dawley memorial, I then came across a report on Private E P Gough (whose name also is on the Memorial) stating that he was the son of Mrs Edgerton and brother of Isaiah and had been killed on April 12th. Why he served under another name will probably have to remain a mystery.

Extra Notes: Enoch Gough (AKA Edgerton) Was Christened Enoch Gough on the 11th Sep 1888 at Malins Lee, his mother was Eliza Gough, Eliza Married Albert Richard Edgerton on the 31dt Aug 1890, so Enoch would most probably be a half-brother to Isaiah.

Battles Of The Somme - Battle Of Bazentin Ridge - 14/07/1916
Location: Bazentin-le-Grand. British victory. The battle marked the beginning of the second phase of the Battle of the Somme.

Dismissed beforehand by a French commander as 'an attack organised for amateurs by amateurs', in contrast to the disaster of the first day of the Somme it turned out to be hugely successful for the British. Aimed at the German second line defences, those on Bazentin Ridge were held by 3rd Guard Division of German Second Army.

Two corps of British Fourth Army were tasked to attack them, on the left XV Corps against Bazentin-le-Petit and Bazentin-le-Grand, on the right 3rd Division and 9th (Scottish) Division of XIII Corps between Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval. The attack of 3rd Division from Montauban towards Bazentin-le-Grand did not go as planned, 8th Infantry Brigade found the wire in front of them uncut, and were held up for a time, and 9th Infantry Brigade encountered heavy machine-gun fire before securing Bazentin-le-Grand.

Whilst the German defensive barrage missed the assaulting battalions it caught the supporting waves, 7th King's Shropshire Light Infantry being particularly hard hit. In securing all their objectives 3rd Division suffered 2322 casualties.

In follow up operations around the ridge on 20th July, 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 2nd Suffolk Regiment of 76th Infantry Brigade were among a relieving force who fought their way to relieve the 1st South African Brigade in Delville Wood. In the early hours of 23rd July, 9th Infantry Brigade were part of a further attack on Delville Wood and the north end of Longueval.

The attack began at 03.40am and the troops were quickly engaged by German machine-guns from the front and left flank. The advance covered a considerable distance but was forced back, where the survivors were bombarded by German artillery.

Following these operations 3rd Division were relieved during the night of 25th July.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Isaiah’s body was never found and he is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 12 A and 12 D.

Commonwealth War Graves
Commemorated Thiepval Memorial

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Victory Medal	British War Medal