Born: 1875 Mortlake, Surrey. Christened at Mortlake on 1 August 1877.
Parents: George Frederick Eydmann c.1833-1897 & Emma Reeves c.1833-1869 / Elizabeth Jemima Turner 1840-19??
Died: 19 November 1947, Rosyth, Fife. Buried at Douglasbank, Fife. Lair number to be added.
Married: 22 September 1909, Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom, to Margaret (Maggie) Laing McPherson 1885-1967.
Herbert (aged 34) married Margaret Laing MacPherson (aged 24) on 22 September 1909 at St. Serf’s Episcopal Church, Burntisland, Fife. The proclamation of banns (20 September 1909) states that both were residing in the Parish of Burntisland while the marriage certificate gives Herbert’s usual place of residence as Tynemouth Castle, Tynemouth. Margaret’s address was recorded as Ogieson Cottage, Burntisland.
Herbert Arnold George Eydmann was born on 23 March 1910 at Ogieson Cottage, Girdlehill, Burntisland. The birth was registered on 28 March 1910 by Arnold who “out of the House in which the Birth occurred” gave his residence as Tynemouth Castle, Tynemouth.
Children:
Herbert Arnold George Eydmann 1910- Born Burntisland
Margaret Janet Eydmann 1913-
Amy Dorothy Beatty Eydmann 1915-1918 Died 18 February 1918 at Dalmeny.
Gertrude C M Eydmann 1916-
Lilian H Turner Eydmann 1919-
Ormonde E East. Eydmann 1920-
Edith D Mary Eydmann 1922-
Harold Edward David Eydmann 1925-
Charles Eydmann 1935 Born to Margaret Janet Eydmann 1913-
Parents: George Frederick Eydmann c. 1833-1897 and Elizabeth Jemima Turner 1840-
Siblings:
- Frederick Eydmann
- Lizzie Eydmann
- Lillian Eydmann
- Daisy Eydmann
Half-brother to children of George and his previous wife Emma Reeves:
- George Eydmann
- Alfred Eydmann
- Ada Eydmann
- Annie Eydmann
- Willie Eydmann
- Flora Eydmann
All of George’s children were born at Mortlake.
The 1881 census records Herbert (Bertie) living at High Street, Mortlake with his parents, four siblings and his half-sister Annie who was then a barmaid, aged 18.
Profession:
Prior to military career he was apprenticed to a butcher. There were a number of butchers close to his family home on Mortlake High Street, including the shop next to theirs so it is likely that he worked in one of these.
After military service he was a store-keeper and copper smith.
Military Service: A full military record survives.
His military record shows that when he enlisted at the age of 18 years and 3 months he was 5 ft 7¼ inches, 123 lbs and with a chest measurement between 34 and 36 inches. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. A wart to his head is noted as a distinguishing feature. His religion is given as Church of England.
He had the trade of butcher.
He joined the army on a short 15th Hussars, Royal Artillery 21 November 1891 at Fort Rowner, Gosport
The Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) came into existence as a separate entity in July 1899 when existing coastal defence, mountain, siege and heavy batteries of the Royal Artillery were amalgamated into a new sub-branch. The RGA retained the badge and dress uniform (dark blue with scarlet facings) of the Royal Artillery Regiment but personnel were normally clothed and equipped as dismounted men. The RGA was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire’s forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege artillery. The corps name was discontinued in 1924 when the RGA was re-amalgamated into the Royal Artillery.
Prior to the First World War artillery would maneuver on the battlefield beside the infantry and cavalry. The field artillery would form part of a battle line alongside the infantry and, on occasion, the horse artillery would charge alongside the cavalry with guns, limbers and caissons and all.
His first rank was Gunner.
8 May 1905 transferred as Sergeant in Fife RGA : The Fife Royal Garrison Artillery T/RGA/FIFESHIRE
21 July 1908 posted to Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (TF). This unit was formed in 1908, with its Ammunition Column from the 1st Fifeshire R.G.A. (V) with headquarters at Kirkcaldy,
He went to No 12 Company RGA in 1911.
He was discharged at Sheerness on 6 September 1911 at his own request.
Before the First World War Lydd became an important artillery practice camp. Experiments with high explosives carried out on the shingle wastes around 1888 led to the invention of the explosive Lyddite. Lydd was at one time a garrison town and the area is still an important training ground for the armed forces, at one time having an extensive narrow gauge railway network.
Herbert and Margaret’s marriage certificate. The witnesses were Jean Harrower? MacPherson and Thomas Herbert Muir.