Edgar was born in 1891 in Ottery St Mary, Devon. He was the second son of Sawyer and later Estate Manager Samuel Purse and his wife Eliza Ruth Thomas.

He grew up in Crediton in a small thatched cottage on Exeter Road along with his Father, Mother, oldest brother William (my great grandfather), younger brother Leonard, his younger sister Dorothy and youngest brother Archie.

His father Samuel later managed Redvers Buller’s estate at Downes and owned the row of cottages in which they lived gifting one to each of his children. His Father’s mother Harriet Purse was known as the Grand Old Lady of Colyton and lived until she was 103 years old, she lost many grandchildren to the war.

His mother Eliza’s father William Thomas of Silverton, served his country for 20 years across Australia, The Subcontinent and Afghanistan and his great grandfather, William’s father, fought in the Peninsula War.

In the 1911 census he is aged 20 and employed as a Private in the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Edgar was killed on the 18th April 1918 aged 27 years old. He died four days before the three year anniversary of his brother Leonard’s death in 1915.

At the time of his death he was Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment.

He died at Hazebrouck, France (a key railhead) and is buried in the Morbecque British Cemetery, Plot I. Row B. Grave 9.

The CWGC indicate that the cemetery was made by the 5th division during the German advance in April 1918.

He was killed in action alongside 5 other soldiers on the day of the 18th April 1918 that are buried at the cemetery.

He is remembered on the Crediton War Memorial and on a plaque on the organ in Crediton Church that was purchased in his memory.

Edgar is well remembered by successive generations of his family. He is mentioned in the edition of the Western Times dated 3rd May 1915 in an article devoted to his brother Leonard.

"Kyrtonian Killed at the Front. It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Lance-Sergt. Leonard Samuel Purse son of Mr and Mrs. S. Purse of Exeter-Road, Crediton, which took place in the battle of Hill 60.

The intimation of young Purse’s death was received at the parents’ home from another brother, who is also Lance-Sergeant in the same regiment the 1st Devon. Both brothers were fighting in the same battle. Nothing had been heard of the deceased, and on enquires being made it was ascertained from the stretcher bearers that he had been killed.

Both brothers left Jersey for France together, with the draft last August, and have been in several battles. Deceased was formerly a baker by trade, and worked for Mr. Parsons, at Copplestone.

Mr. Purse has a third son who is a Territorial serving his country, and was in close touch when the bombardment at Scarborough took place. The greatest sympathy will be extended to the parents in their sad bereavement."

Edgar’s own death was recorded with the following entry in the Western Times 3rd May 1918. "Purse – Killed in France, April 17th after 3 years and 8 months service, C.Q.M.S Edgar. C. Purse, 1st Devons, beloved son of Mr and Mrs Purse of 16 Exeter Road Crediton, aged 27 years."