Edwin Chichester Laver
3rd Class Trooper, South African Constabulary – Anglo Boer War
Captain, Remount Department, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force – WWI
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 to 2331 3rd Cl. Tpr. E.C. Laver, S.A.C.
Edwin (or Edward in some reports) Laver was born in Glastonbury, Somerset on 3 September 1881 and was the son of Edward Laver, a Farmer and Cattle Dealer and his wife Jessie. According to the 1891 England census an 8 year old Edwin was a school boy in the house of his parents at 8 Edgarley Road, Glastonbury. There was quite a disparity between the ages of his siblings starting with Robert, 17 and followed by John, 15, Wilfred, 6, Irene, 4, and Gwendoline, 3. The family was a prosperous one with General Servant, Mary Carter in attendance as well as a Butler and any number of farm servants
Ten years later at the time of the 1901 England census the picture was somewhat altered – the family had moved to Northover House in Glastonbury where Mr Laver was styled as an Auctioneer, Valuer and Cattle Dealer. Edwin was no longer a youth at the age of 20 and, for the most part, the siblings had remained at home as well in what was obviously a very close knit family. Northover House, the family home, was a large establishment with its seven bay ashlar front, with angle pilasters and porch, probably dating from the early 19th century, though the south wall contains a mullioned window somewhat earlier in date. The house was certainly standing in 1802 when George Tuson, solicitor, moved there, though its proximity to the gaol in the town was thought by his clerk to render it 'not in a very desirable situation'.
Whatever it was that induced a 20 year old Edwin to seek his fortune elsewhere the Anglo Boer War provided him with the opportunity. Raging since October 1899 the war pitted the might of the British Empire against two small Boer Republics in faraway South Africa. The call to create a South African Constabulary had come in late 1900 after it was found that the Imperial troops were hard-pressed to counter the fast riding Boer Commandos which infested the Veld in what was the Guerrilla phase of the war. Now that the capitals of Bloemfontein and Pretoria had fallen there was also an urgent need for a Police Force to man the occupied territories.
Laver answered this call on 13 November 1901 when he completed the Application Forms to join the S.A.C. Confirming that he was 20 years and 2 months old he was described as being 5 feet 10 inches, weighing 158 pounds with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His overall appearance was deemed to be “smart”. As was required he provided the names of two referees – Robert Bath Esq. of the Hollies, Glastonbury and Dr Doidge, J.P. of the High Street in Glastonbury. Signing the Articles of Agreement on 20 November 1901 Laver became, with no. C2331, a 3rd Class Trooper in the ranks of the S.A.C. and, having arrived in South Africa on 18 January 1902, set about his duties as part of the “E” Mobile Troop stationed at Heidelberg in the Transvaal.
The war ended on 31 May 1902 but the vast majority of the S.A.C. recruits had signed up for a period of at least 3 years and thus it was that they “soldiered on”. On 1 September 1904 Laver was promoted to the rank of Corporal and, on 1 January 1905, he was transferred from the Eastern Division to the Northern Division. The wheels fell off a few months after that when, on 18 May 1905, he was reduced to the ranks on account of misbehaviour. This was followed, rapidly thereafter, by his dismissal from the S.A.C. on 19 June 1905 on the grounds of being “unsuitable for police work”. His discharge papers rated his character as “Indifferent” and he was discharged to his address at P.O. Oshoek.
But of what crimes had Laver made himself guilty? The first infringement had taken place at Carolina on 9 April 1903 when he had been found to be “Absent from Camp” for a day – on this occasion he was deprived of one day’s pay. This was followed on 8 October 1903 at Ermelo where he was “Absent from Parade thereby delaying the patrol moving off” and “Drunkenness in Town”- for these misdemeanours he was fined a total of £3. And then there was the incident at Oshoek on 14 May 1905 when he had been found “Absent from evening stable parade” and “Drunkenness in Camp” – this last episode is what cost him a reduction in rank.
Having parted company with the S.A.C. there was nothing to keep him in South Africa and he appears to have returned to his paternal home. His Queens Medal had been issued off the roll on 5 August 1903.
Laver could easily have drifted off into the sunset and never been heard from again but he was a resilient chap. No doubt thirsting for adventure he appears to have made the move to Canada sometime after as he boarded the “Teutonic” at Montreal on 8 July 1911 headed for Liverpool and a visit home. He was described as being a Clerk by occupation on the ships manifest. World War I erupted onto the world stage in August 1914 and Laver, having made Canada his new home, was not long in enlisting.
Two sets of Attestation Papers exist in his regard – the first, dated 16 September 1914, has him described as Edward as opposed to Edwin. His address was 600 Beresford Avenue, Winnipeg and his next of kin was his wife – indicating that he had at some point tied the marital knot. Describing himself as a Financial Agent he confirmed pre-war service with the South African Light Horse although this must have been confused with the South African Constabulary as there is no record of him serving with the S.A.L.H. Now 33 years old he sported an appendectomy scar by way of distinguishing marks and having been found Fit by the Doctors was commissioned into the Remount Department of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force although it is not immediately apparent if he served overseas at the Front.
The second set of Attestation Papers were completed on 1 May 1918 and have his address as 266 Furby Street, Winnipeg. His wife’s names – Gertrude Rose Laver – appear as next of kin with her address provided as London Joint Bank, 5 Princess Street, London, England. As was very often the case with volunteers he deemed it necessary to lie about his age claiming to have been born on 3 September 1883 as opposed to 1881. Still claiming to be a Financial Broker he confirmed 3 years 3 months service with the 6th Battalion, C.E.F. This Battalion, known as Fort Garrys, was authorised on 10 August 1914, and embarked for Britain on 29 September 1914. It formed the nucleus of the Remount Depot on 20 January 1915, and the remainder of the battalion's personnel were absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF, on 6 March 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 5 April 1918 which could account for Laver attesting for the second time less than a month after the unit was disbanded.
The battalion recruited in Portage la Prairie, Roblin, Pipestone and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan and Pincher Creek, Alberta and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec. Laver rose to the rank of Captain in their midst but it is not known as to what medals, if any, he received for his Great War service.
He passed away on 26 June 1959 in Winnipeg at the age of 78 having undergone yet another change in his name – on this occasion he was known as Edwin Chester Laver.
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3rd Class Trooper, South African Constabulary – Anglo Boer War
Captain, Remount Department, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force – WWI
- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 to 2331 3rd Cl. Tpr. E.C. Laver, S.A.C.
Edwin (or Edward in some reports) Laver was born in Glastonbury, Somerset on 3 September 1881 and was the son of Edward Laver, a Farmer and Cattle Dealer and his wife Jessie. According to the 1891 England census an 8 year old Edwin was a school boy in the house of his parents at 8 Edgarley Road, Glastonbury. There was quite a disparity between the ages of his siblings starting with Robert, 17 and followed by John, 15, Wilfred, 6, Irene, 4, and Gwendoline, 3. The family was a prosperous one with General Servant, Mary Carter in attendance as well as a Butler and any number of farm servants
Ten years later at the time of the 1901 England census the picture was somewhat altered – the family had moved to Northover House in Glastonbury where Mr Laver was styled as an Auctioneer, Valuer and Cattle Dealer. Edwin was no longer a youth at the age of 20 and, for the most part, the siblings had remained at home as well in what was obviously a very close knit family. Northover House, the family home, was a large establishment with its seven bay ashlar front, with angle pilasters and porch, probably dating from the early 19th century, though the south wall contains a mullioned window somewhat earlier in date. The house was certainly standing in 1802 when George Tuson, solicitor, moved there, though its proximity to the gaol in the town was thought by his clerk to render it 'not in a very desirable situation'.
Whatever it was that induced a 20 year old Edwin to seek his fortune elsewhere the Anglo Boer War provided him with the opportunity. Raging since October 1899 the war pitted the might of the British Empire against two small Boer Republics in faraway South Africa. The call to create a South African Constabulary had come in late 1900 after it was found that the Imperial troops were hard-pressed to counter the fast riding Boer Commandos which infested the Veld in what was the Guerrilla phase of the war. Now that the capitals of Bloemfontein and Pretoria had fallen there was also an urgent need for a Police Force to man the occupied territories.
Laver answered this call on 13 November 1901 when he completed the Application Forms to join the S.A.C. Confirming that he was 20 years and 2 months old he was described as being 5 feet 10 inches, weighing 158 pounds with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His overall appearance was deemed to be “smart”. As was required he provided the names of two referees – Robert Bath Esq. of the Hollies, Glastonbury and Dr Doidge, J.P. of the High Street in Glastonbury. Signing the Articles of Agreement on 20 November 1901 Laver became, with no. C2331, a 3rd Class Trooper in the ranks of the S.A.C. and, having arrived in South Africa on 18 January 1902, set about his duties as part of the “E” Mobile Troop stationed at Heidelberg in the Transvaal.
The war ended on 31 May 1902 but the vast majority of the S.A.C. recruits had signed up for a period of at least 3 years and thus it was that they “soldiered on”. On 1 September 1904 Laver was promoted to the rank of Corporal and, on 1 January 1905, he was transferred from the Eastern Division to the Northern Division. The wheels fell off a few months after that when, on 18 May 1905, he was reduced to the ranks on account of misbehaviour. This was followed, rapidly thereafter, by his dismissal from the S.A.C. on 19 June 1905 on the grounds of being “unsuitable for police work”. His discharge papers rated his character as “Indifferent” and he was discharged to his address at P.O. Oshoek.
But of what crimes had Laver made himself guilty? The first infringement had taken place at Carolina on 9 April 1903 when he had been found to be “Absent from Camp” for a day – on this occasion he was deprived of one day’s pay. This was followed on 8 October 1903 at Ermelo where he was “Absent from Parade thereby delaying the patrol moving off” and “Drunkenness in Town”- for these misdemeanours he was fined a total of £3. And then there was the incident at Oshoek on 14 May 1905 when he had been found “Absent from evening stable parade” and “Drunkenness in Camp” – this last episode is what cost him a reduction in rank.
Having parted company with the S.A.C. there was nothing to keep him in South Africa and he appears to have returned to his paternal home. His Queens Medal had been issued off the roll on 5 August 1903.
Laver could easily have drifted off into the sunset and never been heard from again but he was a resilient chap. No doubt thirsting for adventure he appears to have made the move to Canada sometime after as he boarded the “Teutonic” at Montreal on 8 July 1911 headed for Liverpool and a visit home. He was described as being a Clerk by occupation on the ships manifest. World War I erupted onto the world stage in August 1914 and Laver, having made Canada his new home, was not long in enlisting.
Two sets of Attestation Papers exist in his regard – the first, dated 16 September 1914, has him described as Edward as opposed to Edwin. His address was 600 Beresford Avenue, Winnipeg and his next of kin was his wife – indicating that he had at some point tied the marital knot. Describing himself as a Financial Agent he confirmed pre-war service with the South African Light Horse although this must have been confused with the South African Constabulary as there is no record of him serving with the S.A.L.H. Now 33 years old he sported an appendectomy scar by way of distinguishing marks and having been found Fit by the Doctors was commissioned into the Remount Department of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force although it is not immediately apparent if he served overseas at the Front.
The second set of Attestation Papers were completed on 1 May 1918 and have his address as 266 Furby Street, Winnipeg. His wife’s names – Gertrude Rose Laver – appear as next of kin with her address provided as London Joint Bank, 5 Princess Street, London, England. As was very often the case with volunteers he deemed it necessary to lie about his age claiming to have been born on 3 September 1883 as opposed to 1881. Still claiming to be a Financial Broker he confirmed 3 years 3 months service with the 6th Battalion, C.E.F. This Battalion, known as Fort Garrys, was authorised on 10 August 1914, and embarked for Britain on 29 September 1914. It formed the nucleus of the Remount Depot on 20 January 1915, and the remainder of the battalion's personnel were absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF, on 6 March 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 5 April 1918 which could account for Laver attesting for the second time less than a month after the unit was disbanded.
The battalion recruited in Portage la Prairie, Roblin, Pipestone and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan and Pincher Creek, Alberta and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec. Laver rose to the rank of Captain in their midst but it is not known as to what medals, if any, he received for his Great War service.
He passed away on 26 June 1959 in Winnipeg at the age of 78 having undergone yet another change in his name – on this occasion he was known as Edwin Chester Laver.
