Edgar Read

Story:
Edgar Read was supposedly born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, about 1880. There is no record of anyone of this name or even parents in the area at this time. There is however an Edgar Read in the Shaftesbury Workhouse born about 1876, an inmate pupil. What is known is that he declared on his enlistment form on 28th August 1914 that he had previous service with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment Territorials and was on the reserve list. He had the Service No. 3/7863 and the rank of Private. Within weeks he was examined by medical staff and declared unfit for further service due to deformed feet. The report stated that he should never been allowed to enlist. He was duly discharged on 27th October 1914. His military forms state he was married to 'Mrs Read' who lived in Woolwich Road, Upper Parkstone, Dorset. Beyond this information nothing else is known.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.