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Pvt. Edward Payne THRIFT, Somerset Light Infantry
1882-20th November 1917

Edward Thrift was born in Islington, London in 1882 but lived for many years in Foots Cray, having
been a pupil at the Village School. He married Winifred in 1912 and the couple set up home in
Windsor Road. He was an only son, whose mother was widowed when he was just seven years old.
Prior to enlisting in May 1916 at the age of 34, Edward was employed on munitions in the Woolwich
Arsenal.

On enlisting he was assigned to the Somerset Light Infantry and trained at Whitstable before going to
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France about 12 months later. The 7 Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry took part in several
engagements including battles at Langemarck and Passchendaele. Originally reported missing, his wife
and mother had to wait over a year before Private Edward Payne Thrift was officially declared dead.

Winifred Thrift was contacted by the British Red Cross early in 1919, who had heard that her
husband’s name had been on their lists for months and that they had asked all the men of his unit
whom they were able to see, both in English hospitals and at the bases abroad, but none of them could
throw any light on his whereabouts. The Red Cross had also questioned some released prisoners but
had learnt nothing.

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The British Red Cross stated that their reports showed that on 30 November 1917, the 7th Somerset
Light Infantry were in action in Front of Cambrai. They took the time and trouble to give the
bereaved widow as much information as possible on what actually took place leading up the day when
he was last seen:

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“On 20 November, a successful attack had been made by the British and considerable ground had been
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gained with the help of tanks. About the 17 November, the German resistance stiffened and on 30
November the enemy launched a determined counter attack.

According to an account from a man who took part: “we were attacking but lost the ground. We were to
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the right of Masnieres. Officers and men of the 7 Somerset Light Infantry put up a brilliant fight with
the advancing Germans. They certainly helped some of the remnants to get clear.”

The British Red Cross account concluded: “Shell fire was very heavy all day and it is easy to believe that
casualties were numerous and that the chances of bringing in the wounded was small. Many prisoners
were taken by the Germans and their names were subsequently reported from Germany, but it is feared that
nothing further can be heard of those who were missing in November 1917.”

In Memoriam: Edward Thrift is remembered on the Camerai Memorial in France.