Edward enlisted on 27th August 1914. He entered the war in the Balkans on 24th October 1915, serving in the Dardanelles and Egypt, and then in East Africa from March 1916 to July 1917. In August 1917 he was transferred to Union of South Africa, having suffered from malaria, for further treatment. He also later suffered from a double hernia, which was operated on but was discharged permanently unfit for general war service. At the time he was discharged his unit was registered as the Imperial Detailed Depot, Simontown, South Africa. Edward settled in Simontown after the war.