1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
Edward William Hammond was found dead, as a result of a gunshot wound to the heart, at his home, 35 Marlborough Road, Gloucester, on 2 October 1918, at about 7pm. A six chamber revolver was at his side.
A Coroner’s Inquiry held at Chequers Inn, Painswick Road, Gloucester heard that Hammond had seen in service in India, Gallipoli and France and had twice been wounded. On 24 August 1918 he had been gassed and suffered resultant burns to his arms, back and buttocks (which would indicate mustard gas).
Subsequently he had suffered from depression (thought to be a result of the gas poisoning). The jury returned a verdict of suicide, whilst temporarily insane.
Edward was born at Gloucester in 1892. He enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment (number 12153) on 15 June 1910, at Worcester after being a labourer. On 28 September 1910 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, becoming a full Corporal on 9 December 1913 and Sergeant on 7 May 1915.
He spent this time mostly with the 2nd Battalion and also with 3rd and 4th Worcesters. On 8 September 1917 he was posted to an Officer Cadet Unit.
His postings were as follows: Home 15 June 1910 to 18 October 1911; India 19 October 1911 to 4 January 1915; Home 5 January 1915 to 20 March 1915; Dardanelles (MEF) 21 March 1915 (embarked from Avonmouth) to 7 June 1915 (invalided to Malta): on 28 April 1915 he received a gunshot wound to the chest; Home 8 June 1915 to 22 December 1916 (he was a PT Instructor with 6th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment during this time); France 23 December 1916 (embarked from Southampton to Rouen joining 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 28 December 1916 and the battalion in the field on 6 March 1917 to 7 September 1917; 8 September 1917 returned to UK for Officer Training and was posted to 1st Battalion, Worcesters on 28 January 1917, following his commissioning.
Following being gassed on 24 August 1918 he had attended a Medical Board on 10 September, who had granted him a further three weeks’ sick leave. It was during this time that he took his own life. He died on 2 October; he was 26 years old.
His grave in Gloucester Old Cemetery is marked by a CWGC headstone. Edward Hammond had married Mabel Beech at Worcester on 12 July 1916 and they had a daughter (Nina W) just under a year later.
Prior to his death the couple had undergone a separation but were recently reconciled. His estate, administered, by his wife, amounted to £59 7s 7d (£59.38)
His National Archives File is WO374/30574.
Researched by Graham Adams 3 October 2011