Battle E H
Name BATTLE, EDGAR HARRY
Initials: E H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment: South Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 04/07/1918
Service No: 9551
Awards: MM
Additional information: Croix de Guerre with palms (France). Son of Richard and Matilda Battle, of 257, Stapleton Rd., Bristol. Born at Waltham Abbey, Herts.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 15.
Cemetery: TEHRAN WAR CEMETERY
1901
Richard Battle 1843 Maldon, Essex, England Head
Matilda Battle 1847 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England Wife
Augusta A Battle 1882 Waltham Abbey, Essex, England Daughter
Arthur E Battle abt 1885 Waltham Abbey, Essex, England Son Enfield Middlesex
Millicent Battle 1887 Waltham Abbey, Essex, England Daughter
Jame L Battle 1889 Waltham Abbey, Essex, England Son
Edgar H Battle 1891 Waltham Abbey, Essex, England Son
Living at 7 Cleveland (??) Enfield
RG13/1275 Folio 22 Pg 35
1891:
RG12/1090 - Folio 47 - Pg 26 Quaker Lane, Waltham Abbey
Richard Battle Head 48 Carpenter b. Maldon
Matilda Battle Wife 44 b. Bristol
Frederick J Battle Son 13 Milkman's Assistant b. Waltham Abbey
Ernest A Battle Son 11 Scholar b. Waltham Abbey
Augusta A Battle Dau 9 b. Waltham Abbey
Arthur E Battle Son 6 b. Waltham Abbey
Millicent Battle Dau 4 b. Waltham Abbey
James L Battle Son 2 b. Waltham Abbey
Edgar H Battle Son 4m b. Waltham Abbey
The 1st S. Lancs were stationed in India throughout the war. The South Persia Rifles were formed by Sir Percy Sykes in Persia Nov-Dec. 1916. He requested British officers and NCOs be sent out to help train and run the unit. Being sat in India on garrison duties I wonder if Edgar volunteered for attachment or was posted?
Operations in Persia 1914-1919
"The total strength of the South Persia Rifles had risen to 6000 Persian ranks, and there were about 70 British Officers and 84 British NCOs."
The South Persia Rifles were usually posted in small detachments so there is no way of knowing where Edgar might have been. But the group of medals would be very interesting and carry a premium because of this story.
The South Lancs were in India, but Edgar was attached to the South Persia Rifles and serving in Persia. This was a fascinating campaign involving the British and Indian Army, locally raised units, White Russian forces and Bolshevik Russian forces.
War Office,
6th November, 1918.
The following are among the Decorations and Medals awarded by the Allied Powers at various dates to the British Forces for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign
His Majesty the King has given unrestricted permission in all cases to wear the Decorations and Medals in question.
Decorations and Medals conferred by
THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Croix de Guerre.
9551 Sergeant Edgar Harry Battle, late South Lancashire Regiment (Walthamstow, E.)
13112 Supplement to the London Gazette, 6 November 1918.
9551 Sergeant Edgar Harry Battle, late
South Lancashire Regiment (Walthamstow,
E.).
The Persian Campaign was fought in Iran. The British Government in India were always concerned that Russia might attack India via Persia. Therefore they always took great interest in events there. When the war started German agents stirred up trouble, trying to overthrow the pro-British regime. This was why Sykes created the South Persia Rifles, to help restore order. When the revolution began in Russia they also assisted White Russian forces and kept an eye on the Reds on the frontier. The only source that I have is the Official Campaign History "Operations in Persia". Due to the sensitive nature of the Persian problem, this volume was classified secret when it was written. And as Mack rightly pointed out, there were the Anglo-Persian oil fields to protect as well. History is a great circle, if only politicians could read
The South Persia Rifles suffered heavily in 1918 from an outbreak of influenze, this could be what killed Edgar.