Words by Paul Redmond, Director of Student Experience and Enhancement
This year’s University Remembrance Commemoration takes place on the morning of Friday, 10 November.
Each year, at this time, the University community pauses to remember those students and staff who gave their lives during wartime.
This year, we tell the story of one of our students who lost his life in the skies above the Somme battlefields.
Edgar Golding was born on 1st October 1895 in Liverpool, only son of Alfred and Lilian Golding. He attended Merchant Taylor’s School in Crosby before enrolling at the University to study Veterinary Science. In 1914 he had just completed his second year when war broke out.
Initially, Edgar enlisted in Royal Army Medical Corps before being gazetted as Transport Officer for the 1st West Lancashire Field Ambulance. He then transferred to the Army Service Corps.
In 1916 he enlisted in the fledgling Royal Flying Corps – the newest and most glamorous branch of the armed forces.
After several weeks learning to fly in Egypt, Edgar returned home to complete his training. In May 1917 he joined ‘3 Squadron’ in France.
On the morning of 19 September 1917, accompanied by Corporal Leonard Goss, Edgar took off from an aerodrome at Lechelle. He was flying a Morane Saulnier BB (No. A234). With them, with an equally inexperienced crew, was another Morane.
Both pilots had been given instructions not to fly over German lines. But a strong Westerly wind made it difficult to keep to the Allied section. Before long, both planes were over German territory north of Cambrai.
Within minutes, two enemy aircraft from the crack ‘Jasta 5’ squadron rose to meet them.
After a short dogfight, the two British planes were shot down. Edgar is reported to have been shot down by German flying ace Richard Flashar – an associate of Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary ‘Red Baron.’
Although alive when pulled from the wreckage, Edgar quickly succumbed to his wounds. Leonard Goss also died shortly afterwards. The crew of the second plane were taken prisoners.
Lieutenant Edgar Golding was 22 years old. His name appears on the University war memorial along with seven others who lost their lives as pilots in the First World War.
In France, Edgar and Leonard Goss lie side by side in Caudry Military Cemetery. On his gravestone, his family requested the following inscription:
“UNTIL DAYBREAK.”
Acknowledgements: Michael McDonagh & the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Marane Saulnier Type BB – the type of plane Edgar Golding was flying on 19 Sept. 1917