Edward Ryley's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Edward Ryley Hulme was born in Congleton in 1892, the son of Lucy Hulme, a silk worker of Congleton. On 12 October 1895 Lucy married Edward Ryley, a yeast dealer, at St Peter's Church, Congleton, and the couple set up home at 47 Lawton Street, Congleton.
In 1901, eight-year-old Edward was living at 47 Lawton Street, Congleton, with his mother and five-year-old sister Alice; Edward's father was away from home on the day of the census. By 1911, the family had moved to 5 George St, off Sunderland St, Macclesfield, and Edward Ryley jnr. was employed as a silk embroiderer. He was known locally as Edward Ryley but officially as Edward Ryley Hulme.
WW1 SERVICE
Edward joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but by 1918 he had been transferred to the Labour Corps.
Private Hulme was admitted to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques, France, suffering from appendicitis, and died there on 28 December 1918. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 10 January 1919:
DIED - Pte E R Hulme, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, whose mother lives at 5 George St, Macclesfield, died in France on December 28th. He was 26 years of age and succumbed to appendicitis.
The family placed an announcement of Private Hulme's death in the same newspaper:
HULME - on December 28th, 1918, at 4, Stationary Hospital, Longuenesse, France, of appendicitis, Edward Ryley Hulme, Private, Royal Welch Fusiliers, aged 26 years.
Could we have raised his dying head,
And heard his last request,
The blow would not have seemed so hard
To those who loved him best.
From his sorrowing mother and sister Alice - 5, George Street.
COMMEMORATION
Private Edward Ryley Hulme is buried in grave ref. V. E. 85. at Longueness (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. His mother asked for the inscription “UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN” to be added to his headstone.
In Macclesfield, Private Edward Ryley Hulme is commemorated on the Park Green and Town Hall war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Cheshire Parish Marriage Registers (Find My Past): St Peter's Church, Congleton
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects (Ancestry)
WWI Absent Voters Lists (FindMyPast): Macclesfield Parliamentary Division
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 10 January 1919
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.