Edward entered the war on 20th August 1915 serving on a hospital ship. He was on board the Hired Transport "Transylvania", when it was proceeding to Egypt with reinforcements, and was sunk by a torpedo by the German U-boat U-63 off Cape Vado, a few kilometres south of Savona. He was the son of Mr and Mrs D Colbear of Harbush Cottage, Purleigh, Maldon, Essex.