Edmund Nicholas Prideaux-Brune (8/10/1898) Howson’S1912-14 Edmund Prideaux-Brune Died Age 19 on 22 May 1918

Edmund Nicholas Prideaux-Brune (8/10/1898) Howson’s1912-14 Edmund Prideaux-Brune died age 19 on 22 May 1918. He was the youngest of the six children of Colonel Charles Prideaux-Brune and his wife the Hon. Katharine Knatchbull-Hugessen, daughter of the first Baron Brabourne. He was born at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, and in 1901 the family is recorded at The Grange there with a staff of six servants to look after them. In 1901 Edmund was chosen to be a page at the Coronation of King George V and received the Coronation Medal. By 1911 the family is living in their ancestral home, the Elizabethan manor house, Prideaux Place, at Padstow in Cornwall, and the family photo albums show a happy childhood, with pony and trap outings to nearby Hadlyn Bay. Edmund attends St. Aubyn’s School at Rottingdean, Sussex before registering at Gresham’s in September of 1912. The Gresham Magazine has no references to Edmund’s time here, but according to a fellow OG Alleyne Boxall, “He used to play the piano very well in Holt.” An obituary reveals that he was a talented musician who began composing at the age of eleven, setting the poem ‘The Day’ by Henry Chappell to music, and had a number of pieces published. Edmund’s cousin, Amyas Molesworth Prideaux-Brune, also attended the School, from May 1916 until his death following a short illness in October 1917. An obituary for Amyas describes how he “consistently upheld the prestige of an old and honoured name” in the School, with his honesty and simplicity. Edmund leaves at Christmas of 1914, but his family does not forget the School, donating money to the Chapel and Old Boys’ Funds, and later to the Howson Memorial. The Rev E. Prideaux-Brune presents two prayer books to the Chapel in memory of his son, purchased with money invested by Amyas in the War Savings Association. Edmund’s obituary states that on leaving School he goes to train with a coach, possibly in preparation for studying music at Christ Church, Oxford. In September of 1916 he passes 13th in Sandhurst, winning the prize cadetship. In the following December Edmund is gazetted to the Rifle Brigade, in which both his father and brother Denys served as Colonels. Denys had commanded the 13th Battalion on the Somme in the aftermath of High Wood when he lost many men, and he was twice awarded the DSO, but several stories about his unpretentious character survive. His brother Fulke served with both British and Australian armies but was badly wounded and discharged in 1916. All three sisters nursed in England and France during the War. Edmund, meanwhile, arrives in France in April of 1918 and joins the 3rd Battalion at Ostreville. He was killed near Lens with five other officers on 22 May when they were hit by a bomb from an enemy aircraft and buried in the cemetery at Villers- au-Bois near Cambrai. The Chaplain of 2nd Lieutenant Prideaux-Brune’s Regiment wrote to his brother that, although he had only been with the Battalion for a few weeks, he had become popular with everyone. Edmund’s mother continued to carry out her public duties, unveiling the war memorial in Padstow bearing her son’s name, but grieved very deeply in private and never recovered from his loss, dying in France in 1926. Her son Fulke died of his wounds, aged 42, in 1939. Katharine kept a book of recollections about Edmund, with extracts from his diary and prayers and poems written for special occasions, which, along with the prized possessions of his sheet music, cigarette case with family crest, and medals, are still on display at Prideaux Place today. Edmund’s name is also honoured at St. Petroc’s Church in Padstow. .

Load more