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Charles Hedley Edgecombe

Birth	:	16 Jul 1888 Fredericton, York County, New Brunswick, Canada
Death	:	6 Oct 1918 England
Burial	:	Fredericton Rural Cemetery, Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate	:	45.9630394, -66.6680145
Description	:	Killed in England while in service with RCAF aged 30 years from PANB Edgecombe, Charles Hedley 2nd Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Background Charles Hedley Edgecombe was born July 16, 1888 in Fredericton, New Brunswick to Helen Lydia Eaton and Fred B. Edgecombe. According to records obtained from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, his parents married one another in Saint John October 28, 1887. Census records show that Charles was the oldest of four children, the other siblings named Emerson, Louis, and Helen. The Edgecombe family was well-known... Read More	Killed in England while in service with RCAF aged 30 years from PANB Edgecombe, Charles Hedley 2nd Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Background Charles Hedley Edgecombe was born July 16, 1888 in Fredericton, New Brunswick to Helen Lydia Eaton and Fred B. Edgecombe. According to records obtained from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, his parents married one another in Saint John October 28, 1887. Census records show that Charles was the oldest of four children, the other siblings named Emerson, Louis, and Helen. The Edgecombe family was well-known in the Fredericton business community as Charles’ grandfather manufactured horse carriages before passing the business on to Frederick, Charles’ father. Frederick eventually entered the dry goods and railway business operating a store downtown. The family resided at 736 King Street. While little is known of his early life in Fredericton, newspaper records show that Charles eventually attended school at Mount Allison University where he studied and played for the university’s hockey team. Described as one of the most prominent young businessmen in Fredericton at the time, Charles was expected to eventually take over his father’s business. Accounts of his early life illustrate him having the kind of disposition where he made friends and acquaintances easily. When war broke out in the late summer of 1914, Charles left for Camp Borden, near Toronto Ontario to become an aviation instructor, also spending time in Texas where Canadian students joined and trained alongside American students. He eventually returned to Canada and formally enlisted in Toronto the winter of 1917 with the Royal Flying Corps, completing the remainder of his training by July 1918 and graduating with honours. According to his attestation record, Charles was approximately twenty-nine years old and described as having brown hair while standing about five feet three inches tall. The Daily Gleaner reports that by July of 1918, Edgecombe was unhappy with being assigned as an aviation instructor in Toronto and so he requested to go overseas “anxious to get in the thickest of the work among airmen.” Before leaving the summer of 1918, Charles spent a brief period of time with family as he prepared to go overseas, anxious “to do his bit.” Further accounts in newspapers note, “before leaving here he knew full well the uncertainties that were facing him. He had no fear but went courageously forth determined to do his bit, and, if must be, face death in his country’s cause.” He would never return. Wartime Experience Overseeing a company of twenty-five aviators, Edgecombe left Canada from Quebec in early September arriving in England September 25, 1918. Upon arrival, Charles was sent to Salisbury’s aviation headquarters for ten days of training before being put in charge of a Royal Air Force squadron. He was to complete two trial training missions before going to France. During the second of these training missions, Charles lost his life. While news of an accident had been received by family on October 8, details of his death would not be disclosed until a month after the armistice had been signed. According to letters received from the Daily Gleaner in late 1918, the details of what happened to Charles and why are made clear: “Dear Sir, the late Lieutenant Edgecombe went as a passenger with 2nd Lieutenant Forster on a cross country flight on the 6th of October flying in the observer seat of a DH9. Second Lt. Forster was qualified to carry a passenger. He had a forced landing nothing serious was wrong. About 3 o’clock the following day the machine was ready to start again. The machine took off alright and climbed to 300 or 400 feet when 2nd Lt. Forster made a steep left turn. The wind was gusty and appeared to get under the machine and turn it over and it spun into the ground. It burst into flames and by the time assistance arrived Lt. Edgecombe was beyond help and 2nd Lt. Forster was badly injured and died the same evening. Lt. Edgecombe’s body was buried with full air force honors at Salisbury…he had been full of enthusiasm over the work ahead and expressed his great pleasure and being assigned to the bombing section.” According to Charles’ casualty card, he died October 6, 1918 at 3:26pm, the result of injuries sustained in the accident. He was thirty years old. Lest We Forget Charles Hedley Edgecombe is buried with honour at the Salisbury (London) Road Cemetery located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, there are approximately 103 casualties from the First and Second World Wars buried here. *This biography was researched and written by Sam Gorman & Liam Coughlan, Grade 8 students (2017-2018) at George Street Middle School located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Charles Hedley Edgecombe's memorial?
Charles Hedley Edgecombe's memorial is located at: Fredericton Rural Cemetery, Fredericton, York County, Canada.
When did Charles Hedley Edgecombe death?
Charles Hedley Edgecombe death on 6 Oct 1918 in England
Where are the coordinates of the Charles Hedley Edgecombe's memorial?
Latitude: 45.9630394
Longitude: -66.6680145

Family Members:

Parent

Fred B Edgecombe

(1851 - 1931)

Helen L Eaton Edgecombe

(1861 - 1928)

Siblings

Marion Gertrude Edgecombe

(1893 - 1893)

Sarah Wildman Edgecombe

(1894 - 1894)

Fredericka Edgecombe Coy

(1905 - 1968)

Frederick "Emerson" Mittell Edgecombe

(1906 - 1940)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Fredericton Rural Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9630394, -66.6680145

2. Hermitage Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9621124, -66.6702118

3. Fredericton Rural Cemetery Extension
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9622803, -66.6745071

4. Old Burial Ground
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9600000, -66.6427300

5. Douglas Rural Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9798970, -66.6783970

6. Saint John The Evangelist Anglican Cemetery
Nashwaaksis, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9817000, -66.6616100

7. York County Municipal Home Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9798670, -66.6865720

8. Christ Church Cathedral
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9573550, -66.6347870

9. Forest Hill Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9387169, -66.6349945

10. Sunny Bank Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9693170, -66.6206270

11. Carlisle Cemetery
Douglas, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9774600, -66.7124300

12. Saint Anthony's Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9685820, -66.6195070

13. Bradley-Gill Memorial Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9680010, -66.6187120

14. Gilman's Cemetery
Fredericton, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9656900, -66.7231000

15. Dayton Cemetery
Douglas, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9773400, -66.7219600

16. Saint Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery
Springhill, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9661800, -66.7405900

17. All Saints Anglican Church Cemetery
Marysville, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9711900, -66.5900000

18. Marysville United Baptist Cemetery Extension
Marysville, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9867400, -66.5927300

19. Alexander Gibson Memorial Cemetery
Marysville, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9866940, -66.5924070

20. Olivet Cemetery
Marysville, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9772400, -66.5859100

21. Marysville United Baptist Church Cemetery
Marysville, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9908900, -66.5802400

22. Holy Trinity Anglican Churchyard Cemetery
Lower Saint Marys, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.9223740, -66.5881670

23. Saint Mary the Virgin Anglican Church Cemetery
New Maryland, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.8908510, -66.6845140

24. Seymour Memorial Cemetery
Kingsley, York County, Canada
Coordinate: 46.0319384, -66.7124707