234765 Pte. Edward Hebden British Army 24th Btn. Manchester Regiment from:Hollinwood, Oldham Edward Hebden was my grandfather (He never spoke about the war). He was a very quiet man and a good engineer.
We have learned he joined the Oldham Pals and was later attached to the 18th Pioneer Corps. He was gassed on the Somme but
recovered. He was then moved to Italy and fought outside of Venice where he caught malaria and dysentry. On his return he never spoke of the war but as a child I was caught reading the Great war books and severely reprimanded.
My sister and myself have been researching and when we discovered the Italy connection I was taken back to a childhood memory of watching my grandfather frying a cheese (which I now know as gorgonzola)in a pan. As he fried it the maggots inside squirmed out and died but he ate them all. I think this was how it was in Italy at the time. He won no medals or received awards but he served his country
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