Edwin James Silcox

Story:
Edwin James Silcox was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24 Oct 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 26 Nov 1893 the son of Edwin James Silcox (Senior) and Emma Jane Silcox (nee Weldon).  He lived all his life in the Shaftesbury area including the King's Arms Inn, where his father was the Innkeeper, and later at Barton Cottage, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he lived with his step father, Albert Coward, who his mother had married following the death of Edwin (Senior) in 1900.  Edwin (junior) had enlisted and joined Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3686 & 201749).  He served with the 1/4th Battalion on the North West Frontier with Afghanistan in India.  Following his discharge on 28 Nov 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the India General Service Medal with Clasp Afghanistan & North West Frontier Force.  The 1921 Census shows he was living with his mother and step-father in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working as a Jobbing Gardener. He married Sarah Emma Wright in Shaftesbury on 14 Oct 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 100 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Gardener.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1971.  His brothers, Harry Silcox and Philip Ernest Silcox, also served in the conflict.