EDWIN DARLEY ATKINSON.

RANK:Private.

SERVICE NUMBER:15/1652.

REGIMENT: 3rd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment

BORN: Knottingley west Yorkshire.

ENLISTED: Leeds.

GAVE HIS LIFE: 30/11/1918.

AGED: 19.

CEMETERY: Brookwood Memorial Surrey.

LEEDS MODERN: 1911-1915.

Edwin was born in Knottingley the son of Ernest Born Knottingley 1866 and Miriam Born Knottingley 1868.

Edwin was only 16 when he enlisted in Leeds into the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment known as the Leeds Pals,edwin trained at Colsterdale in North Yorkshire until April 1916 when he was sent on active service.

Incredibly Edwin survived the Somme and all of the fighting leading up to the end of 1918, and his commanding officer had recommended him for his commision.

However Edwin picked up a chill whilst in Tynemouth Hospital and passed away from Pneumonia (Spanish Flu) that was sweeping the nation indeed the world.

I am not sure why Edwin is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial in Surrey it could be his body was cremeted due to the high risk of infection.

When Edwin passed away his mum was living in Worcester after remarrying taking the name Sweeting, the family for a short time lived on Harehills Avenue Chapletown Road Leeds.