copyright: andy carroll 2006-07

Founded in 1879 for the purpose of playing Rugby Union

Affiliated to The Rugby Football Union, The Middlesex County Rugby Football Union and the London Society of Rugby Referees.  Associated with the Essex County Rugby Football Union.

Edward Douglas Bestall

Son of the Rev.W.J.Bestall and Emily Ruth Bestall, of 58 Crawley Rd. Victoria Park London.

Lieutenant, 9^th Bn Essex Regiment. 35^th Brigade. 12^th(Eastern )Division.

Died Monday 3^rd July 1916, age 22.

The 12^th(Eastern)Division was formed in late August 1914. The 9^th Essex was formed at Warley from volunteers from across Essex and those areas of the County in East London, West Ham, Leyton, Walthamstow and Ilford.

The Division went to France in June 1915, and took part in the Battle of Loos on the 30^th September that year.

On the 2^nd July the second day of the Battle of the Somme, the Essex were part of the Divisional attack on the village of Ovillers. The action was not a success and the Division suffered 2,300 casualties including Edward Bestall.

Bestall has no know grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, which contains the names of 72,000

UK and South African soldiers who have no known grave, and died in the Somme sector before March 1918.

Bestall is on Pier and face 10 D.