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. *This is the bomb that killed Walter and Edith Battey. |
Download pdf file |
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:
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) |
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'The Finchley Press, Muswell Hill Mercury & Highgate
Post' (Friday 17th August 1917) |
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 |