Edgar Westcott

Captain, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)

Edgar Westcott was a student at Alleyn’s until 1907 when he then attended the City of London School. After leaving school he worked for the Railway Passengers Assurance Company in their London East End branch, and later lived with his wife, Edith Mabel Westcott, at 3 Cedars Road, Beckenham.

He joined the war effort in 1914 as part of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) 9^th (Yorkshire Hussars) and saw service overseas on the Western Front as a Lieutenant in 1917 and then as a Captain in January 1918. During his time with the regiment, Edgar was involved in a number of British operations in Gallipoli in 1915 and then in France, he and continually proved himself as a keen and reliable soldier in action. In 1916, these qualities were recognised when he was awarded the Military Cross Military Cross gazetted 14 November 1916: " For conspicuous gallantry in action. When the other officers had become casualties, he assumed command of part of his battalion, displaying great courage and initiative. He set a splendid example to his men under very trying circumstances."

After receiving his medal, Edgar continued to serve on the Western Front until late 1918 when he was killed in action on November 4^thduring the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. He is buried at Artres Communal Cemetery.

With thanks to Aviva Group Archives for some of this information