337523 Pte Edward Gleave MM 2/1st West Lancs Field Ambulance

[Mark Abbott]

Edward Gleave was born in 1894, the son of Henry and Mary Gleave of Prescot Road, St Helens. He was awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette 7 October 1918.

The recommendation for his MM states:

" For great bravery during the fighting near LOISNE from 11th to 14th April 1918. Regardless of danger he worked unceasingly and with the greatest coolness through an intense bombardment bringing in casualties to comparative safety. On several occasions he volunteered to take messages through very heavy shell fire, thereby securing early help and hastening the evacuation of the wounded."

The recommendation is dated 18 April 1918.

After the war, Edward became a master at Rydal School in North Wales and I am currently researching this aspect of his life.

I will post further details as I find them.

Mark

[Mark Abbott]

Don't you just love the internet?!!!

Although my main interest is researching local men who served in WW1, I also enjoy discovering who their ancestors were.

Edward Gleave, was born in Sculcoates in 1894, one of the children of Henry Hurd Gleave and his wife Mary. In 1901, Henry was working as a "Glass works clerk" living in Prescot Road, St Helens with his wife and children, Harold, Edward, Catherine, Eleanor Atkinson (who was described as a "governess" ) and Alice Pye (described as a "domestic servant). I noted that Henry place of birth was given as "Barbados".

My initial thoughts were that Henry's father, John Rowland Gleave, may have served at sea or in the army. However further digging has revealed him to have been a Wesleyan missionarary who had postings in the West Indies and South America as well as various parishes in this country. "The History of the Wesleyan Missionary Society" gives his various postings as:

1862 Demerara Georgetown Br. Guiana.
1863 Barbados James St W.Inds
1869 St Vincent
1870 Barbados James St
1871 London Lambeth
1874 Preston Lune Street
1877 Sunderland Fawcett Street
1880 Newcastle-Tyne Blenheim Street
1883 Hull Waltham Street
1886 Wakefield
1889 Huddersfield Buxton Road
1892 Seacombe
1895 Manchester Longsight

John Rowland Gleave died in 1910, leaving his widow Louisa ( a Hitchcock before her marriage) who in 1911, was visiting her son Henry at "the Laurels", Prescot Road, St Helens.

I am finding the Gleaves a fascinating family to research and I am looking forward to further discoveries!

[daggers]

Mark
Interesting trail you are following.
You probably know that Rydal School (now Rydal Penrhos) is a Methodist foundation.
D

[Mark Abbott]

Thanks Daggers.

I have managed to obtain some photocopies of "The Rydalian"

From the issue dated July 1962;-

" Mr E Gleave was a Master at Rydal for thirty-five years (1919-1954) and like his many colleagues who gave a liftime's service to the School, he contributed more to our tradition than any of us can possibly express. He was Housemaster of Glan Aber (now the Sanatorium) for a short time in the 1920's, and the War, became Housemaster of Hathaway, where he remained until his retirement. He was a very keen and hardworking Sports House Master and led the Corinthians for many years.

Mr Gleave was a forthright Yorkshireman with a generous nature, a sensitive concern for other people and a great sense of humour. He loved his subject, English, and, by his imaginative and conscientious teaching, inspired many others to love it too. He was in his element as a Housemaster and exerted great influences for good on those who came under his care; and Mrs Gleave was a continual support and inspiration to him; many Rydalians will remember her with gratitude and affection, and sympathise with her now in her bereavement.

I had the privilege of sharing with Mr Gleave in Fellowship meetings when I first came as Chaplain, and I learnt in them something of the depth and simplicity of his religious faith. Their Church was of foremost importance to Mr and Mrs Gleave, and they devoted much of their period of retirement to its service; and not least among Mr Gleave's many contributions to the life of Rydal was his preaching in the chapel.

It is impossible to give a true picture of men like this; words fail us. We can, nevertheless, thank God for his life and for all fair memories of him, and this we do gladly. He died after a long illness and much suffering patiently borne, having been wonderfully supported by Mrs Gleave. It was right that the School Choir should have been able at his funeral service, just befor the Summer Half Term, to sing the hymns he wanted and to say good-bye for us all 'Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace...'".