Reference
Z1259
Title
Records of Edgar Thomas Odell (c.1869-1941) of Dunstable donated in August 2006
Admin/biog history
Edgar Thomas Odell was born at Caddington, Herts in about 1869. By 1871 he was living, aged two, with his parents John (a labourer) and Emma, and siblings, at 57, High Street North Dunstable (see census return). Edgar was to live in Dunstable – apart from war service – for most of the remainder of his life. By 1881 the family were living at 14, Victoria Street, Dunstable, and his father’s trade was described as ‘hostler’ (census return)
In 1885 Edgar joined the Bedfordshire Rifle Volunteers (Z 1259/3), which later became the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (1887) and the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (1908). In civilian life Edgar had his own straw hat business in Dunstable (1901 census; 105 Church Street Dunstable). Edgar was appointed a company-sergeant major in the 5th Bedfords (Z 1259/4) prior to embarkation for Gallipoli in 1915 where he was wounded (see obituary and Z 1259/7). After his retirement from the army c1920 he continued in charge of Dunstable Grammar School Cadet Corps (Z1259/8-10). By the mid-1930s his health was declining and in March 1936 he was admitted to Three Counties Asylum, Stotfold (later Three Counties) where he died on 29 January 1941. Edgar Odell was interred at Dunstable (see Luton News obituary: 8 February 1941 page 8 col.6)
Level of description
fonds