According to the London Gazette Edward lived in Maidenhead. He enlisted into the R.A.M.C. on the 14th February 1913 and served with the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford. Edward was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, whilst serving abroad with the 89th Field Ambulance "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the regimental aid post was under heavy barrage and had received a direct hit which blew it in and buried three men, he went to their assistance at at great personal risk succeeded in digging them our and attending to them under continual shell fire. He worked for thirty hours on a forward line, exposed the whole time to enemy machine gun fire, and his gallantry and determination throughout the day were beyond all praise."