Captain Edgar Ralph COLES
3rd (Prince of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards

Date of birth: 13th May 1889
Date of death: 12th May 1915

Killed in action aged 25
Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Panel 3
Edgar Ralph Coles was born at Burntwood House, Caterham in Surrey on the 13th of May 1889, the second son of Ernest Henry Coles, a manufacturer of Indian rubber, and Adela Caroline (nee Powell) Coles later of “Arnolds” of Holmwood, Dorking in Surrey. He was christened on the 16th of June 1889.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1902 where he was a member of the 2nd Football XI in 1899 and was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1902 when the school magazine described his cricket as "An unknown quantity."

He was a member of the Football XI in 1902 when the magazine wrote of his season: - "(Back) - Rather slow, but plays a good determined game; is a clean kick, but should learn to use his head."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....goes to Marlborough. He has been an efficient choir leader, and a member of both XI's."

He went on to Marlborough College where he was in Preshute House from January 1903 to December 1906. He went on to Magdalene College Cambridge where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1910. While he was there he was a member of the College Rugby XV and rowed for the College in the 1st Boat in 1908. He spent six weeks during the summer of 1908 drilling with the Dorset Regiment on Salisbury Plain.

He entered the 3rd Dragoon Guards as a University Candidate in August 1910, and his commission as 2nd Lieutenant was antedated to the 23rd of February 1910. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 28th of March 1911, and was stationed at Wellington Lines, Aldershot. He was promoted to Captain on the 18th of November 1914. From 1912 he served with regiment in Cairo, where he represented the Regiment at polo. In the summer of 1914 he returned to the UK to attend a signalling course and gained his Aero Cub Certificate (No. 858) while flying a Bristol Biplane at The Bristol School, Brooklands on the 28th of July 1914.

Following the outbreak of war his regiment sailed from Alexandria on the 19th of September 1914, arriving at Liverpool on the 18th of October. At 8pm on the 30st of October they embarked at Southampton on board the SS "Victorian" and set sail for France at 1am the following morning . They arrived off Le Havre at 8.30pm that night and disembarked there at 8.30am on the morning of the 1st of November 1914. They were attached to the 6th Cavalry Brigade on the 4th of November and entered the trenches at Heronthage Wood on the 6th of November. He was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatches of the 14th of January 1915 for his good work in carrying messages and maintaining communications under heavy shellfire at Zillebeke in November 1914. He was promoted to Captain on the 18th of November 1914.

At 8am on the morning of the 12th of May 1915 the three hundred and eleven men of the 3rd Dragoon Guards assembled for a march to the front line where they relieved a battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in trenches at Boeseghem at 11pm. Between 11.30pm and midnight Edgar Coles was touring the new positions when he was struck by a bullet in the abdomen and killed. He was buried at Witte Port Farm, two miles to the east of Ypres but his grave was lost in the subsequent fighting.

His father received the following telegram dated the 15th of May 1915: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that Captain E.R. Coles 3rd Dragoon Guards reported killed in action 12th May. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

His Commanding Officer, Major Burt, wrote:-

"His gallantry had already been recognised by the authorities, and his splendid example and comradeship will be greatly missed by all ranks in the regt."

Lieutenant Holt, Acting Adjutant, 3rd Dragoon Guards wrote:-

"His gallantry was an inspiration to his men."

His servant, Private Harvey, who had been with him since he joined the army, wrote:-

"He was one of coolest officers that was ever under fire".

He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Lawrence's Church, Caterham, on the memorial at Marlborough College and on the memorial at St Peter's Church, Seaview on the Isle of Wight.

His brother, Major Guy Roger Coles 155th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 5th of September 1944.
Went on to Marlborough College

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