Lance Corporal Edward ‘Ted’ Alphonse Ayre 1009 Royal Newfoundland Regiment enlisted on 29 January 1915 at St. John’s, Newfoundland. His mother, Mrs. Selina Ayre of Channell, Newfoundland had nine children, six living (losing three sons during the war). Ted, a Seaman, standing 5′ 4″ tall, 130 pounds.
Enlistment
Lance Corporal Edward Alphonse Ayre left Newfoundland aboard T.S. Stephaus 20 March 1915. Transferred to T.S. ORDUNA 22 March 1915, landing 30 March 1915 at Edinbourg Castle.
Disembarked Alexandria, Egypt, 1 September 1915. Embarked for Gallipoli, 13 September 1915.
Embarked Port of Suez, 4 March 1916. Disembarked at Marseilles 22 March 1916.
The Girl He Left Behind
Attached to the Virtual memorial listing are a series of images, some of them are postcards that Edward sent to the love of his life, Maud McNiven.
There is a photo of Maud and one of Edward with his best friend, Maud’s brother. Tragically both boys would be killed in action on 1 July 1916.
Thank you to Fred Pafford of Wesleyville, Newfoundland for sharing these images.
The soldier records show that Edward (Ted) survived the Gallipoli campaign ( Sept ’15 – Feb ’16) and landed in France in March 1916.
Lance Corporal Edward Alphonse Ayre’s Last Will and Testament
The Battle of the Somme
At dawn on 1 July 1916 the Newfoundland Regiment waited in St John’s Road Trench for the leading assault battalions to take the forward German lines, after which they were to continue beyond Beaumont Hamel onto the Beaucourt ridge. An hour after zero hour ordered to move forward in conjunction with the 1st Essex and occupy the enemy’s first trench. Communication trenches blocked with wounded, the battalion deployed directly from this trench, moving across ground out of the direct sight of most of the German defenders. However, the Essex Regiment on their right under observation from Thiepval and obliged to use the communication trenches, so they were unable to get into position until about an hour later.
The Newfoundland Regiment on their own. As they advanced, silhouetted over the ridgeline, making them a clear target for the German machine gunners and riflemen. Proceeding through gaps cut in the British wire, these gaps identified by the Germans and targeted accordingly. At this stage the battalion the only troops moving on this part of the battlefield and thus the principal target of the German artillery and infantry. The Danger Tree marked the furthest point of their advance.
Lance Corporal Ayre’s badly mutilated body found and buried east of Y Ravine at 57d.Q.10.d in No Man’s Land on 23 April 1917.
Y Ravine Cemetery
Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux then Serre Les Puisieux (approximately 20 kilometres south of Arras). On leaving Serre Les Puisieux, 3 kilometres further along the D919, turn left following the signs for Auchonvillers. At the crossroads in the village centre following the signs for Newfoundland Park, Beaumont Hamel. The Y Ravine Cemetery is located within the Park.
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