Edith Kate Huskisson

Edith Kate Huskisson (the first of Francis John and Annie's natural children) was born October 1, 1884 at 2 Park Villas, Dartmouth Park Hill, St. Pancras. She married Walter Henry Battey (born Bow, St Saviour, London, 1875) on October 29, 1904 at St Andrew's Church, Whitehall Park, Islington and had three children. Elsie Madeline Battey (b. April 8, 1906), Constance Mary Battey (b. Bet. 1909 - 1910) and John William Battey (b. Bet. 1911 - 1912).

The family lived at 19 Brigadier Avenue, Enfield.

On Tuesday, August 7, 1917, Edith and her children set off from their home in 19 Brigadier Avenue, Enfield for a week's holiday in Southend-on-Sea. A photograph* (*See first item in photo album at bottom of this page) is presumed to have been taken soon after their arrival and was sent to Edith's parents (my great-grand parents) in East Finchley. They received the photo on Friday 10th August 1917. On Saturday 11th August, Walter arrived in Southend to join them for the remainder of the weekend, and he was to return home on the Sunday evening. With the intention of seeing him off at Southend Victoria train station on Sunday 12th, the family proceeded to walk up the High Street to Victoria Avenue when they were suddenly caught in a bombing raid by German aircraft.

A bomb exploded in front of the Technical college, and people began to run. Elsie ran for cover into the doorway of a Fruit & Vegetable store in 'Broadway Market' - opposite the Technical College. A wounded 'Tommy' beckoned her further inside. She could see her parents running along the road outside and then a second bomb exploded, killing them, and blowing the shop's front wall in.
Walter was killed instantly, and Edith was mortally wounded, dying in hospital on Tuesday August 14, 1917. All three children survived but suffered severe mental scars.  John William Battey is rumoured to have spent time in a mental institution, and at some point discharged himself - never to be heard of again by the family. Constance Mary Battey, though physically injured, made a full recovery and went on to have a career working at the head office of the Prudential Assurance Company in London. She married a doctor and lived out her years in Alfriston, East Sussex. Elsie Madeline Battey married Vincent C. West and spent much of her life as a semi-professional singer. I was fortunate enough to meet Elsie and her husband Vince on a couple of occasions when I was a child.

Walter Battey

 

From 'Southend & The Great War 1914-1918' by Ken Crowe.

"On the 12th August 1917, shortly after 5pm, a formation of 9 Gotha bombers of the 3rd Battle Squadron was sighted approaching Felixstowe. The formation headed along the southern bank of the Blackwater, then turned south towards Rochford. Two 50kg high explosive bombs were dropped on Rochford Aerodrome, causing little damage. Four bombs were dropped on Leigh (one of which did not explode) and seven on Westcliff (one of which did slight damage), and seventeen bombs dropped in the middle of Southend. There was no air raid warning.

A 50kg bomb fell in front of the Technical Schools (Victoria Circus) but caused no casualties; however, most of the windows were broken and considerable structural damage was done to the floors. Another 50kg bomb fell in Victoria Avenue near the railway station; between 15 and 20 people who were making their way to the station were killed. A house in Guildford Road was completely demolished by another bomb, killing a woman, a man and a child.

After delay caused by uncertainly as to the formation's target, sixteen Sopwith Pups of 61 Squadron (Rochford) were soon in the air, breaking up the enemy formation while they were bombing the town.

In all 32 people were killed and 44 injured in this, the most devastating air raid on the town in the Great War. The first bomb had dropped near Victoria Rail Station at 5.55pm on this Saturday evening, where most of the casualties occurred. Almost immediately questions were asked in Parliament (and locally) regarding the lack of air raid warnings, and Southend Council called upon the Government to state plainly whether it was going to "inflict reprisals on German civilians for the recent air raids."


*This is the bomb that killed Walter and Edith Battey.

 

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A transcript from a contemporary (unidentified) local newspaper gives further details of the event.

 

Many years later, Walter and Edith Battey's daughter Elsie Madeline West (nee Battey) gave her own account of her experience to an Enfield local newspaper: 



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Southend-on-Sea local historian Tony Brown described to me in some detail the route taken by the Battey family, and the 'fruiterer' (mentioned in Elsie's account, above) where she took cover. A helpful contemporary street map is included.

 

My father told me that the crater caused by the bomb eventually became the site of underground public toilets.

 

Photo Album

(Click on the thumbnails to view the pictures)

'The Finchley Press, Muswell Hill Mercury & Highgate Post' (Friday 17th August 1917)

NB. The family photo in the article, though taken in Southend, appears to have originated in a photographic studio; the background clearly being a painting.

John & 'Connie' Battey in hospital

Death notice in local paper

Notice of thanks

Local newspaper report on funeral service of Walter & Edith

Probably Edith & Walter's son, John Battey

Constance Battey in hospital

Edith & Walter's grave, buried with Edith's father, Francis John Huskisson