Photo : De Ruvigney Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 110

Photo: Gary Nelson with Thanks

Shields Gazette Thursday 02/09/1916

Four Courts Memorial Belfast

Medal Index Card

John Hammond Edgar, the only son, was born on the 23rd October 1879 at Banbridge, [Dromore], Armagh, Ireland, to the late Robert Smyth Edgar, [born about 1830, died 28th December 1897], who had a large Drapery business, and his wife Elizabeth, [Eliza] Jane Hammond Edgar, [born 1844, died 18th October 1918], daughter of John Jardine, of Dromore, Co Down. They were married on the 19th December 1877, in Downpatrick, Co Down. John was also godson of the Reverend David Edgar, of Ballynahinch, Co Down, also great godson of the Reverend Samuel Edgar, B.D., Professor of Theology for the Secession Synod.

There were four other children all girls, Helene born 1879, Elizabeth born 1982, died July 1932, Anne born 1888 and Mary born 1887, died 16th October 1967.

John was educated at the Campbell College, Belfast and then Queen's College.

In 1901, he was residing at The Square, Dromore Urban, Co Down.

He graduated in 1900 with a B.A., R.U.I., (Honours Second Class). M.A., in 1901, (Honours First Class and Studentship). L.L.B., London University, he was called to the Irish Bar in 1904. Then in 1905 to the English Bar in the North East circuit.

Prior to his call to the Irish Bar he gained the John Brook Prize of £25 tenable for three years. In 1902 he read a paper on "The Depopulation of Ireland" before the British Association. He was also a prominent member of the Tyne Rowing Club.

John was unmarried.

He was a Barrister-at Law practising in the North East and was boarding at 3 Devonshire Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was a Presbyterian and was a member of the Jesmond Presbyterian Church.

John in 1913 joined the Freemasons at Maple Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and was as also a member of the Pen and Palette club at Newcastle, then located at the Mansion House, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Pen & Palette Club was formed in 1900.

The Rev. David Youngson has provided the following:

Lieutenant John Hammond EDGAR
Durham Light Infantry 9th Battalion (Territorial)

He originated from Belfast and was a Barrister residing at 3 Devonshire Place, Newcastle On Tyne. He was Initiated into 1427 Percy Lodge, Masonic Hall, Maple Street, Newcastle on Tyne on the 15th April 1913 aged 33 years, Passed 13th May 1913 and Raised on the 16th September 1913. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry on the 3rd November 1914. He died of wounds on the 24th February 1916 aged 36 and is buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Reference I.M. 27

Sunderland Echo Monday 21/03/1910 reports:-

On Wednesday, March 23rd 1910, Mr. J. H. Edgar (Barrister-at-Law) gave a Lecture at the Sunderland Liberal Club, then located at Fawcett Street on "Our Political Parties and their Present Position".

On the outbreak of the War, he received a commission on the 3rd November 1914 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.

Promoted to Lieutenant, he was sent to France on the 5th May 1915, and arrived with the Battalion at St. Jan-ter-Biezen.

In December 1915, he was one of the survivors of a bomb explosion which occurred at the front line, escaping with slight injuries. He also had been gassed.

Arriving just back to the Battalion's position from leave, he died of his wounds, on the 24th February, 1916, 9 hours after being struck in the head by a piece of Shrapnel, whilst talking to a fellow officer outside his dugout. He was taken to the Casualty Clearing Station but he never regained consciousness.

Lieutenant Colonel Henderson wrote : He was a good and careful officer, kindly to all under his command, and greatly respected by all. We shall miss him very much.

In his will dated the 14th August he left effects of £902 8s 10d to Steele Henderson Rentoul Presbyterian minister and Samuel Darragh bank manager.

Rev Steele Rentoul was born in Clough and grew up on the Dromore Manse, he married John Hammond's sister Helene, he died in April 1933.

One of his sisters was residing at 15 Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast in 1918.

John Hammond Edgar is remembered at Jesmond on J1.09 and J1.16

He is also remembered on the Belfast Four Courts Memorial.

Queen's University Belfast
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Edgar