3603: Story of the sons of the Darvell Family, Chesham Bakers (I)
Born Chesham, Buckinghamshire April 1894. Son of George and Marion Harriett Darvell, brother of Nellie Darvell (see Robert). Baker in family business. Killed in action 25th September 1915 at Loos.
Enlisted at Chesham, date unknown, and joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Transferred to 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Edward Darvell and the "Fighting Tenth" left Salisbury Plain for France on 8th August 1915, joining 1st Brigade of 1st Division, IV Corps, 1st Army around the town of Bethune.
On 25th September 1915 during the battle of Loos, 10th Gloucesters advanced across no-man's land under a hail of machine-gun fire to take a small wood called Bois Carr. To add to their discomfort gas and smoke were blowing back in their faces. Nevertheless, the battalion pressed on and overran the German front line trench before reorganizing and pressing on towards the second line. 10th Battalion suffered very heavy casualties during this attack, nearly being wiped out with only sixty men still alive and unwounded at the end of the day. Edward Darvell was among those killed; he was 21 years old and has no known grave. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
His brother George served Royal Army Service Corps on the Italian Front, but died of influenza 13th February 1919. He is buried in a war grave in Chesham.
