Lance Corporal Arthur Edward Bryant King's Royal Rifle Corps and Royal Observer Corps
The Man Arthur Edward Bryant (Edward) was born on Sunday 3 March 1895 in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, son of Timothy a Chainmaker and laterTennis ‘Bat’ Maker and Emily nee Free and was one of four children Timothy A (1898–1979), Isabel Emily Ivy Gladys (1903–1980) and Irene (1907–).
The 1901 census shows the family living at 269 Terriers, Wycombe and Edward attended the Board School, High Wycombe until 25th August 1902 when aged 7 together with Timothy they were registered at Adys Road School in London. (Adys Road School opened in 1884 and renamed Friern Secondary School in 1947. Amalgamated with Honor Oak School in 1978 to form Waverly School). Their address was given as 28 Warlingham Road and he left the school a year later on 1st August 1903.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 269 Terriers, Wycombe and Edward attended the Board School, High Wycombe until 25th August 1902 when aged 7 together with Timothy they were registered at Adys Road School in London. (Adys Road School opened in 1884 and renamed Friern Secondary School in 1947. Amalgamated with Honor Oak School in 1978 to form Waverly School). Their address was given as 28 Warlingham Road and he left the school a year later on 1st August 1903.
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Defence Medal. Royal Observer Corps Medal. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 34 Norbins Road, Glastonbury and Edward aged 16 working as a News Boy he was also a member of the Church Lads Brigade.
As world War I began on Tuesday 4th August 1914, Edward, aged 19, enlisted into a special battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps for members of the Church Lads Brigade at Glastonbury on Sunday 9th August as a Private and with service number C-408. He was called up on 21st September.
The 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lads Brigade) was formed at Denham, Buckinghamshire on 19th September 1914 by Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell, Commandant of the Church Lads Brigade, from current and previous members of that organisation. They moved in March 1915 to Rayleigh but returned to Denham in May. In June 1915 they moved to Clipstone Camp and came under orders of 100th Brigade in 33rd Division. They moved again to Perham Down in August 1915 and embarked with Edward on board for France on 16th November 1915 landing at Le Havre on 17th..
As world War I began on Tuesday 4th August 1914, Edward, aged 19, enlisted into a special battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps for members of the Church Lads Brigade at Glastonbury on Sunday 9th August as a Private and with service number C-408. He was called up on 21st September.
The 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lads Brigade) was formed at Denham, Buckinghamshire on 19th September 1914 by Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell, Commandant of the Church Lads Brigade, from current and previous members of that organisation. They moved in March 1915 to Rayleigh but returned to Denham in May. In June 1915 they moved to Clipstone Camp and came under orders of 100th Brigade in 33rd Division. They moved again to Perham Down in August 1915 and embarked with Edward on board for France on 16th November 1915 landing at Le Havre on 17th..
Medal Index Card showing award of the 1914-15 Star trio and SWB
Edward was posted to the front-line trenches for the first time on 4th December and subsequently promoted to Lance Corporal then Corporal. On 11th June 1916 however, he was shot in his upper right arm by a German sniper at about 0200h, this was reported to his parents by a friend and neighbour of Edwards, also living in Norbins Road, writing from the trenches, Rifleman Stanley Webb. Edward was officially listed as wounded in the government daily reports dated 2nd July 1916.
Edward’s injury was clearly severe as he was returned to the UK and discharged from the Army on 20th December 1916 under Kings Regulation 392 (XV1) – No longer physically fit for war service. He was awarded a Silver War Badge Number 99955.
After the war Edward was awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals. He followed his father becoming a Tennis Racket maker, the family moving to the village of Prestwood in the 1920s and living at Chiltern Cottage.
About 1925 Edward joined the Observer Corps becoming part of No 17 Group on its formation at Watford in 1931, based at the GPO Buildings, Market Street, Watford 1931-1943 and Cassiobury Drive 1943-68. The OC at that time came under control of local constabularies and Observers were classed as Special Constables. Edward was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935, the qualification for this ceasing in August 1939 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC.
During the second quarter of 1938, aged 43 Edward married Beatrice Maude Groom in Wolverhampton and they lived at Highlands, Wycombe Road, Prestwood, Amersham, his father Timothy living next door at Hammerskop. They had no children, but did have a stepson Robert Francis Albert Heath born in 1917. The 1939 Register shows Timothy and Edward as Tennis Racket Makers and records Edward serving in No 17 Group Observer Corps. He served with the, now, Royal Observer Corps throughout World War II and awarded his Defence Medal at the end of the War.
Edward remained in the ROC post war with 17 Group and sadly, Beatrice passed away on 10th January 1949. He was awarded his Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal in 1950, this appearing in Air Ministry Order N.157-158/1952 dated 28th February 1952.
Edward was also secretary of the Prestwood Forget Me Not Club and member of the Royal British Legion.
He passed away on 25th January 1973 aged 71 still living at Highlands, Wycombe Road and his funeral was held at Prestwood Parish Church the service conducted by Rev S Smith. He was given full Legion honours at his funeral with the branch standard present and the Union Flag draped over his coffin, his medals probably resting on the coffin too.
Edward’s injury was clearly severe as he was returned to the UK and discharged from the Army on 20th December 1916 under Kings Regulation 392 (XV1) – No longer physically fit for war service. He was awarded a Silver War Badge Number 99955.
After the war Edward was awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals. He followed his father becoming a Tennis Racket maker, the family moving to the village of Prestwood in the 1920s and living at Chiltern Cottage.
About 1925 Edward joined the Observer Corps becoming part of No 17 Group on its formation at Watford in 1931, based at the GPO Buildings, Market Street, Watford 1931-1943 and Cassiobury Drive 1943-68. The OC at that time came under control of local constabularies and Observers were classed as Special Constables. Edward was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935, the qualification for this ceasing in August 1939 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC.
During the second quarter of 1938, aged 43 Edward married Beatrice Maude Groom in Wolverhampton and they lived at Highlands, Wycombe Road, Prestwood, Amersham, his father Timothy living next door at Hammerskop. They had no children, but did have a stepson Robert Francis Albert Heath born in 1917. The 1939 Register shows Timothy and Edward as Tennis Racket Makers and records Edward serving in No 17 Group Observer Corps. He served with the, now, Royal Observer Corps throughout World War II and awarded his Defence Medal at the end of the War.
Edward remained in the ROC post war with 17 Group and sadly, Beatrice passed away on 10th January 1949. He was awarded his Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal in 1950, this appearing in Air Ministry Order N.157-158/1952 dated 28th February 1952.
Edward was also secretary of the Prestwood Forget Me Not Club and member of the Royal British Legion.
He passed away on 25th January 1973 aged 71 still living at Highlands, Wycombe Road and his funeral was held at Prestwood Parish Church the service conducted by Rev S Smith. He was given full Legion honours at his funeral with the branch standard present and the Union Flag draped over his coffin, his medals probably resting on the coffin too.
Bucks Examiner Friday 2nd March 1973
The Sory The medals awarded to Arthur Edward Bryant were acquired from the Stratford Upon Avon Medal Fair on Sunday 27th October 2024. They were of interest because of the unusual Special Constabulary and Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal combination.
Originally members of the Observer Corps came under local constabularies and were awarded the SCLSM until 1939, when the Air Ministry took responsibility and their own medal was granted in 1950.
Having seen the medals, it was decided not to purchase them, but as is often the case they continued to resonate in the head. Halfway across the car park returning to the car, the medals were still being thought about and following a brief pause and moments of indecision, the hall was returned to and the medals purchased.
Thankfully their acquisition was a sensible decision as research on Ancestry, Wills and Newspaper Archives enabled a detailed biography to be pieced together, including the fact Arthur, who was seemingly known as Edward, was severely injured and invalided home from the front in 1916, sadly his Silver War Badge is not with his medals.
The medals are as Edward wore them with the two long service medals in the wrong order.
A pleasing group to a man who spent many years in uniform during both world wars despite being injured.
Originally members of the Observer Corps came under local constabularies and were awarded the SCLSM until 1939, when the Air Ministry took responsibility and their own medal was granted in 1950.
Having seen the medals, it was decided not to purchase them, but as is often the case they continued to resonate in the head. Halfway across the car park returning to the car, the medals were still being thought about and following a brief pause and moments of indecision, the hall was returned to and the medals purchased.
Thankfully their acquisition was a sensible decision as research on Ancestry, Wills and Newspaper Archives enabled a detailed biography to be pieced together, including the fact Arthur, who was seemingly known as Edward, was severely injured and invalided home from the front in 1916, sadly his Silver War Badge is not with his medals.
The medals are as Edward wore them with the two long service medals in the wrong order.
A pleasing group to a man who spent many years in uniform during both world wars despite being injured.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: C-408 CPL. A.E.BRYANT. K.R.RIF;C
- 1914-18 British War Medal: C-408 CPL A.E.BRYANT K.R.RIF.C.
- Victory Medal: C-408 CPL A.E.BRYANT K.R.RIF.C.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded
- Royal Observer Corps Medal: OBSERVER A E BRYANT
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: ARTHUR E BRYANT
This page last updated: 2 Dec 24
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