De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 230
Photo: Barry Greenbank: Mortimer in centre.
Cricket team, Jesmond, 1902
Edmund Mortimer was born on the 24th August 1879, at Tynemouth, Northumberland, the third son of William Brook Mortimer, of Hay Carr, near Lancaster, Landowner, some time Registrar of the County Court, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and his wife, Caroline (9, Kensington Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne), daughter of the Rev. J.E. Elliot, of Whalton, Northumberland; and brother to Lieutenant William Brian Mortimer.
Edmund was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Lancaster, Bracewell Hall, Skipton-in-Craven, Repton, and Clare College, Cambridge, he was a Land Agent, and a partner in the firm of Messrs. G. & N. Wright, of Blyth, Timber Merchants.
He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers after the outbreak of war in September 1914, and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant on the 10th October 1914.
He went to France on the 20th April 1915, and was killed in action at St. Julien 26 April, 1915.
Buried near Wieltje. Colonel Spain wrote: Your son was killed on 26 April, gallantly leading his platoon in a desperate attack on St. Julien. He was a fine type of English gentleman, and I feel his loss very greatly. He was very popular with the men, and his platoon adored him. His body was brought in , and we buried him near Wieltje. I had some red and white roses which the 5th Fusiliers wear on St. George's Day, and I made a little wreath of them, and put it on the cross we made with his name and regiment. He was shot through the heart, and must have died instantaneously. He was as brave as a lion.
He was very fond of, and good at, all games, being a good shot and keen angler; while at Repton he was in the Cricket XI., and also in Clare College Cricket XI., and later played on occasions for Northumberland County; also for the Northern Nomads; was a good bat, sound field, and, on occasion, a dangerous change bowler. At the same time he was a good football player, and a member of his Company's XI. that won the Inter-Regimental Cup a week previous to his leaving England. Unmarried.
Source: de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour
Submitted by Tony Harding
Barry Greenbank adds the following:
Here is a photo from the back of the county Crickat pavilion at Jesmond. F.G.H. Clayton and R.G.C. Mortimer (Edmund's brother) were the big cheeses in the county's cricket for decades. The match was an annual one, bringing their pals from round the country to Newcastle.
Some years ago, when I was working on Northumberland's cricketers, I was somehow put in touch with Edmund's niece, Violet. I think she lived in the Ponteland area. Edmund was not known to me in this photo. His niece recognised him instantly – the man in the spectacles. She said that when her uncle died, George Edward Wilkinson was with him and brought his kit home. Mr. Wilkinson was the county wicket keeper and became an important man in the T.A.
Edmund was a good player in club cricket – I can remember an innings of 170 – but minor counties cricket found him out. Those eyes?
His record for Northumberland: 1899-1905 – 7 matches. 11 innings not out. 12 runs. 5 highest score. 1.20 average. If I remember correctly, he failed to score 5 times, and was three times out first ball.
With such a record, why did he play so often? Well, the side was mostly amateur and to get a man to go to, say, Stoke on Trent for a two-day match was not always easy. Edmund always seemed to be available, and his brother was chairman of selectors.
The group photo is of F.G.H. Clayton's XI v R.G.E. Mortimer's XI, 2-4th September 1902 at Jesmond.
No 1 is E. Mortimer; No.2 is R.G.E. Mortimer; No. 3 is F.G.H. Clayton and No.4 is G.E. Wilkinson.
Edmund Mortimer is remembered at Alnmouth on A10.12, at Seaton Sluice on S9.03, at Milbourne on M8.02 and M8.04, at Ponteland on P12.08 and P12.10, at Whalton on W38.03 and W38.05, at Jesmond on J1.12 and at Newcastle on NUT087
