BINGHAM, H (Edward)

Edward Bingham was the brother of Arthur Bingham and was born at Lye. He was a nephew of Amos Perrins, the first Chairman of the Lye Urban District Council. His parents, Mr and Mrs Samuel Bingham, later moved with their family to 1 Woodland Cottage, Highley, Shropshire, a mining village near the River Severn. In 1914 Edward Bingham volunteered for the Shropshire Territorials and joined the 1/4th Battalion. They were sent abroad in December to India to replace a regular army battalion. They also served in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Andaman Islands. They returned to Europe in the Summer of 1917 to join the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division who were preparing to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The Shropshires were closely involved in the final stages at Passchendaele when the ridge was finally taken. Casualties were heavy and Private Edward Bingham was seriously wounded. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station near Boulogne, where he died of wounds and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery (VI G 25). He was 23 years of age and left behind a widow and child. He is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.