Today We Remember

Edward Charles SAVINGS
Service no. 31017

Private, 6th Battalion,
The Northamptonshire Regiment

Family Background

Edward was the son of Richard and Caroline Webb Savings, of Brackley Road, Aynho in 1879. He had a younger sister (Caroline) and a brother (Frederick) His father was born in Tackley and his mother in Brackley; Richard was originally an ironstone miner presumably either at the Nell Bridge or Adderbury quarries, and later a wagoner on a farm. Edward, aged 24,  married  Alice Eldridge in 1903 and they had eight children– two girls (Hettie and Edith) and six boys Frederick, Ernest, Arthur, Richard, William and Alfred) – the last being born in February 1917. They all lived in one of the cottages on Brackley Road (now 4 Charlton Road) and mother, Alice, died there much later. Frederick, her eldest son, lived at 8 Charlton Road (The Little Sanctuary). Alice’s sons were probably all farm workers – the 1921 Census will allow confirmation.

Edward was a farm labourer and is described in the 1911 Census as a “Cowman” – probably at College Farm. He enlisted in Northampton in November 1916; apparently he only had one lung but passed his medical.  He was posted to France to join the 6^th Battalion in early March 1917 and was killed two months later. His widow, Alice, was awarded a pension for herself and her 8 children later that year – 38s 9d per week (nearly £2 – or about £85 per week in today’s money). Alice married again and she had one more child, a daughter with her second husband – she was Dolly Smart (nee Williams), married to Jim, the Aynho roadsman (council worker).

Edward’s family are very much still connected to Aynho today – one of his twin granddaughters, Susan Richardson, lives in the village and the other, Alice Mouat, in Croughton, whilst his grandson, John (Peds) Savings died in 2003; John’s widow, Chris, lives in The Glebe. Great grandsons live in Croughton, Steane and Suffolk; great granddaughters live in Souldern and Chesterton – and there is another generation too!

Edward has no known grave but his name appears on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial.