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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
2nd Lt. Edward Stokes-Hatte
British Army Royal Irish Rifles
from:Dublin
(d.15th/16th Aug 1917)
2nd Lieutenant Edward Stokes Hatte was my grandmother's cousin and according to everyone a very nice chap. He grew up in Dublin and studied Medicine at the University (possibly Trinity College) for 2 years circa 1908-9.
However, Edward decided that medicine was not for him and instead went out to Ceylon (modern day Sri-Lanka) to try his hand at tea-planting. He became a popular member of the Kelani Valley community where they were still experimenting with establishing new varieties such as Earl Grey.
In August 1914 Edward joined the Ceylon Planters Regiment as a Rifleman. He served on General Birdwood's staff (according to his sister as ADC) and was wounded in Egypt, possibly in protection of the Suez Canal. He also helped with the evacuation at Gallipoli.
Edward returned to Ireland after his first wounding and by the end of August 1916 had joined the Royal Irish Rifles as a 2nd Lieutenant. Sent to France he was only there about a week when his unit saw action in a fierce battle at Bernefray Wood on the Somme. Edward sustained severe leg injuries and was sent first to Le Touquet where they had transformed the old casino into a hospital. As his wound was so severe (possibly caused by a sniper) he was transferred on the Cambria to the Brook Hospital in London.
There he met his girlfriend, Miriam Goggin, (a sort of "in-law" relative). By Christmas 1916 Edward was back in Dublin at the George V hospital. He went before a total of 6 military boards and by February 1917 was pronounced fit for combat. After rejoining his regiment he served at Messines. Edward was finally killed on the night of 15/16th August 1917 in a disastrous raid on Frezenburg near Ypres. The Rifles attempted to storm the ridge which was held by the German 7th Bavarian Infantry. There were no survivors as days of heavy rain had saturated the soil and the soldiers were caught in mudslides. Edward is remembered at Tyne Cot. His girlfriend Miriam descended into agoraphobia after his death.
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