Letter to Private Edmund Craig's mother from Captain Myles Donovan, A Company, 1st R.I.F.:
Dear Mrs Craig It is with deepest sympathy that I, as officer commanding your sons section, which was attached to my company for work in the trenches, write to tell you that your son Private E. Craig was killed this morning about 6:30am. I am sure he suffered no pain as he was in his dugout at the moment that a trench mortar blew it in, and he must therefore have died instantly. He is a great loss to his company (D Company) I am sure. I know that all my company are exceedingly sorry to lose such a cheery comrade and a young soldier showing so much promise. I was intending to put his name forward for a stripe. He is to be buried tonight in a little cemetery near the village of Berles. There are many more fellows in the same cemetery who have died the most glorious of all deaths In action fighting for King and country. Again let me offer my deepest sympathy.

Private S. J. Turkington writes to Jane Craig, Private Edmund Craig's mother: May 1916:
Dear Madam It is with deep sadness I have to write you these few lines concerning the death of your dear son, Eddie who fell in action on Sunday, 30th April. I might say that he was in charge of a Lewis gun team when a German aerial torpedo killed him and two comrades. He suffered no pain, and was buried in a little cemetery in the town of Berles, where his name and number are inscribed on a cross over his grave. He was a staunch comrade, and was loved by all in the regiment. He had always a smile and a joke for all. I trust that the lord will sustain you in your great loss. You can give my love to Jimmie and Minnie. May you and they be blessed with courage from on High to help you in your trouble. I was very sorry I was not near him at the time he was killed; but he never spoke.

Compiled by Ken Austin from information supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. www.cwgc.org. Our thanks to Richard Edgar for Additional Information.

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