EDWARD SAMUEL LAST
Photograph courtesy of Lou Rust
Born: 1879, Earl Stonham, Suffolk.
Died: 23rd August 1917; age 37; KiA – in the middle of a very large and important attack, he was carrying forward ammunition to the gun that was much in need of it, when he was hit by a sniper’s bullet and killed instantaneously at the feet of Lieutenant B. Oakley, of the 43rd Machine Gun Coy.
Residence: 11, Little Gipping Street, Ipswich.
Employed: as a Labourer for Messrs. Cranfield Brothers.
Enlistment Place: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 27296
Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry, 6th Battalion.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 41 to 42 & 163A,
Zonnebeke,
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of Elizabeth Last of 11, Little Gipping Street, Ipswich.
Brother to CHARLES LAST and JAMES LAST and Uncle to ALBERT STANLEY SMITH.
CENSUS
1881 Cottage, Earl Stonham, Suffolk.
Edward was a month old and living with his parents & siblings.
Samuel Last, 46, an Agricultural Labourer, born Earl Stonham.
Caroline Last (nee Vinyard), 35, born Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
Daniel William Pyke, 14, Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Charles Last, 10, born Stonham Aspal.
Sarah Last, 8, born Earl Stonham.
James Last, 7, born Earl Stonham.
Francis John Last, 3, born Earl Stonham.
1891 The Street, Haughley, Suffolk.
Edward was 11 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Samuel Last, 57, an Agricultural Labourer.
Caroline Last, 45.
James, 16, an Agricultural Labourer.
Francis, 13, an Agricultural Labourer.
Robert George Last, 8, born Earl Soham.
1901 Chateau a L’Etoc, Alderney, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
Edward was 22 years old and an Agricultural Labourer.
1911 Moorlands Cottage, Burnt House Farm, Earls Colne, Essex.
Edward was 30 years old and a Farm Labourer. He was living with his wife and children.
Sara, 29.
Samuel 3.
James 1.
In May 1903, Stowmarket Edward married Sarah Elizabeth Beaumont, born July 1882, Ipswich.
They had 3 children:
Frances Caroline Last, 1905, Haughley.
Samuel Edward Last, 1908, Haughley.
James George Last, 1910, Haughley.
Soldiers’ Effects to Elizabeth Last – widow.
Edward lost 2 brothers during the Second Boer War –
Charles Last, was KiA during the Battle of Rooiwal, on the 11th April 1902, he was 31 years old. Charles was ranked a Gunner, service number 75325, for the Royal Field Artillery, 78th Battery.
James Last, died of disease at Harrismith, on the 16th February 1902, he was 28 years old. James was ranked a Private for the Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, 15th Mounted Infantry.
Image from 1917 Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper
Edward is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Peter’s Church,
Ipswich and at Dance East, Jerwood Dancehouse, Ipswich. Formerly Cranfield’s Flour Mill.
Edward is also remembered at The Mission Free Church Ipswich Curriers Lane
Somerset Light Infantry, 6th Battalion:
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