Born on the 9th September 1895 Edward was the son of Edward, and Esther Sturch, of Court Row off Mill Street, Shipston-on-Stour.  Edward senior worked as a carpenter and had done for many years. However when Edward was baptised on the 27th October 1895 his father’s occupation is recorded as Travelling Showman. The 1901 census shows that Edward had three older brothers Charles, Henry, George and a younger sister Ester. It is not known when Edward enrolled in the Infants School but he moved up to the Boys School on the 1st July 1903, when the family are noted as still living in Court Row. Edward left school on the 17th September 1909, a week after his fourteenth birthday. Signing up with Arthur Harvey and George Gardner in early September 1914, Edward joined the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and like them he moved to France on the 18th July 1915, but as his Company is unknown it is not known which of the ships he sailed in.    On the day of George Gardner’s death on the 28th February 1916 the Battalion were relieved by the 10th Worcesters and were in billets at Pont Du Hem by 9:30pm. From here they were to act as the Brigade Reserve, and although they were supposed to be resting, they supplied 3 working parties to work under the instructions of the Royal Engineers. On the 2nd March 1916 50 men per company were allowed to go and watch one of Lena Ashwell’s concert parties giving a performance of a play.  The following day they relieved the 10th Worcesters in the Trenches at Champigny.  For the next four days they remained in the front line, taking part in a Trench Mortar attack and sending out patrols at night to check on the enemy lines.  On the 7th March they were relieved, and went into the Brigade Reserve at La Gorgue. After two days resting over 300 men were sent to form a working party to help rebuild the reserve trenches at L’Epinette Farm, a few miles to the South-West of La Gorgue. On the 13th March they sent nearly 200 men to work on the same reserve trenches, and the following day 84 returned, but 176 men were also sent to La Flinque to work with the Royal Engineers. Some Lewis Gun teams also went into the front line to relieve the 10th Worcesters. On the 15th March the whole Battalion went into billets at Pont Du Hem where they remained until the 20th March. On the 21st March the Battalion were back in the front line at Chapigny relieving the 10th Worcesters.  ‘A’ Company were on the right, ‘B’ Company in the centre and ‘D’ Company on the left. ‘C’ Company were holding posts Dreadnought, Erith, Tilleloy (N) and Grant. Company Headquarters was in Winchester Post.  Over the following days the Germans shelled the front line to varying degrees as recorded in the Battalion War Diary. 22nd March 1916 C.O. visited trenches and posts 9:30am till 1pm.  Gen Twyford visited Battalion Headquarters in the morning Casualties (21.3.16) 5 casualties (wounded) Casualties (22.3.16) 1 killed 23rd March 1916 6:40am Germans sprung a mine just to the right of our subsection. Very quiet day, enemy only putting 3 shells into GRANTS POST during the day. Casualties 1 wounded. On the 26th March Edward died of wounds sustained, it is believed, on the 23rd of the month. The Stratford Herald of the 14th April 1916 reported:  Last week Mr E. Sturch of Horn Lane (now Telegraph Street) received an official notification that his son Pte Edward Sturch 10th Royal Warwicks died on March 23rd from wounds received in action. He was aged 20 years, joined the colours about a year ago, and was a smart young soldier. Great sympathy is felt for the relatives. He is the 10th Shipstonian to have made the ultimate sacrifice since the outbreak of war. The following day the Evesham Journal also reported on Edward’s death under the heading “Another Shipston Man Killed”: We have to record the death of another Shipston man at the front. Mr. E. Sturch of Telegraph-street, has received official intimation that his youngest son, Pte. Edward Sturch, of the Royal Warwicks, was killed in action on March 23. Pte. Sturch joined the Army in 1914; he was previously employed by Mr. R Ward. He was a member of the Friends’ Adult School. He would have been twenty-one years of age next September. Mr. Sturch has two other sons serving with the colours”. Edward was buried in the Merville Communal Cemetery and is remembered on both the Town and both School Memorials.

Mike Wells