Edmund Reuben Durrant

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Edmund died on 12th of October 1916 at the age of 22. 

Edmund was born at Great Yarmouth on 5 March 1895, a son of Edmund Alfred and Esther Maria Durrant. He was baptised at Great Yarmouth on 24 April 1895. In 1900 his family lived at 7 Ashby Terrace, Kirkley. Edmund became a pupil at Kirkley School on 6 March 1900. In 1901 his family lived at 60 Beaconsfield Road, Lowestoft, and this was still their home in 1911 when Edmund was an engineer’s apprentice at a motor works. Later his mother lived at 39 Lovewell Road, South Lowestoft. 

Edmund volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 9261. He was posted to the 7th Battalion and arrived in France, with the Battalion, on 30 May 1915. 

The War Diary for the 7th Battalion has:

10 October 1916
Relieved 11th Middlesex in Bulls Runs, near Flers, four companies in front line.

12 October 1916
Attack to be made on Bayonet Trench and Luisenhoff Farm. Morning very quiet.
5 a.m. Battalion lying in shell holes in front ready.
10 a.m. Major Henty went forward to advance Battalion Headquarters in Grass Street to receive reports.
2 p.m. Zero. Attack started. German barrage very intense. Battalion proceeded in four waves, each company with a platoon front.
No definite report until 6 p.m. when Battalion was back in front line having failed to attain objective.
B and D Companies gained objective, but were driven out by superior numbers.
1st Essex on right gained objective but were unable to hold it, finally and they managed to keep part of it.
Battalion withdrew to reserve in Flers Trench. 

Colonel Murphy, in history of the Suffolk Regiment, felt that the attack failed because the enemy wire had only partially been destroyed and that the British barrage was ineffective.
All fifteen officers that went over the top became casualties: eleven killed and four wounded. Ninety two other ranks were killed and, in total, the Battalion had over 500 casualties.  

Edmund was reported missing and his death presumed to have taken place on, or since, 12 October.