Kilmaluag & Reading
Bombardier Edward Hadaway (1883-1916)
Edward Hadaway’s Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate
Gunners of the 156th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery hauling a 8 inch howitzer into position at Longueval, September 1916.
Family
Edward George Hadaway was born in 1893 in Brotton, Yorkshire.
His parents were Edward John Young Hadaway and Eleanor Johnson. Edward was a Post Office official and they lived at Post Office House, Filey, Yorkshire.
Edward was the eldest of four children: Edward George (b 1893), Harold Norman (b 1894), Enid Dixon (b 1897) and Gilbert Maurice (b 1904).
At the time of his enlistment Edward was living in Stockton-On-Tees, Durham.
Service record
Edward served as a Bombardier in the 16th Heavy Battery, 21st Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery (Service number 46178). He served in France and Flanders.
Edward’s grave at Meaulte Military Cemetery, south of Albert.
Roll of Honour, St Thomas’s Church, Stockton Upon Tees 1914-18, Edward’s name is incorrect in the Roll, he is listed as Ernest instead of Edward.
The Royal Garrison Artillery developed from fortress-based artillery located on British coasts. From 1914, when the British Army possessed very little heavy artillery, it grew into a very large component of the British forces. Heavy Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery were equipped with heavy guns, sending large calibre high explosive shells in fairly flat trajectory fire. The usual armaments were 60 pounder (5 inch) guns, although some had obsolescent 5 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Heavy Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strong points, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines.
The 16th Heavy Battery was raised as divisional artillery for the 16th (Irish) Division by the Irish Command in September 1914 (part of Kitchener’s Second New Army). They moved from Ireland into barracks in Aldershot by the end of the month and on 10 June 1915 the Battery left the Division and proceeded to France.
Died
Edward was killed in action on 1 May 1916, aged 23 years old.
Commemorated
Edward is buried in Meaulte Military Cemetery. Meaulte is a village in the Somme, immediately south of Albert. The cemetery is south of the village on the west side of the road to Etinehem.
He is also commemorated on Stockton-on-Tees War Memorial, adjoining the town’s High Street beside St Thomas parish church.
Decorations
Edward was awarded three medals: Victory, British and 1915 Star. These would have been sent to his family.