De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 3 page 24
Cambridge University Roll of Honour entry Page 30
Medal Index Card Front
Medal Index Card Back
Edward Barnard Bilton was born at Benwell, Northumberland, on the 18th June 1887, the eldest son of the late Edward Stanton Bilton, and his wife Susanna, daughter (late of Coombe, Wimbledon Park, S.W.) of the late William Barnard.
Edward was educated at Charterhouse, and after Charterhouse he went on to Clare College Cambridge, then trained as a barrister. He was called to the bar in 1913. He was a Barrister and a member of the Inner Temple.
Edward was a Freemason - he was initiated into Isaac Newton University No. 859, Province of Cambridgeshire.
He obtained a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 14th November 1914 in the Highland Cyclist Battalion. He was then promoted to Lieutenant on the 31st March 1915. Whilst attached to the 2/5th Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Regiment he was promoted to Captain on the 16th Mach 1916.
Edward served at Battalion Headquarters as Intelligence Officer and served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from January 1917. He was killed in action whilst making a reconnaissance towards the enemy during an advance near Albert, on the 15th March 1917. He was buried on the battlefield at Achiet-le-Petit.
His Commanding Officer wrote : He was my Intelligence Officer, and did extraordinarily good work all the time, and will be quite impossible to replace. We, both officers and men. were devoted to him. He died a hero's death; none in the war have done more. He is a fine example to us all. A brother officer wrote He was a very valuable officer. He acted with splendid courage and judgement in our last operation. He was on duty in a dangerous situation for 30 hours, was slightly wounded but carried on undaunted, and gave us very valuable information, saving many lives.
He was mentioned in despatches [London Gazette 25 May, 1917] by General Sir Douglas Haig for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Charterhouse Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Captain Bilton
