Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Edward Sole, known as Ted, was the second son of William and Emma (née Wills) Sole, of 36 Ashley Street, Rangiora. He was born on 5 June 1895 at Waimate and educated there. The family lived in the Waimate district until about 1912/1913, when the parents moved north. Edward, or Ted as he was known, was a nephew of Richard Frank Wills. They did everything together in the war, even to being killed on the same day in the same battle.

On 15 April 1913, Edward Sole was one of many Senior Cadets summoned to appear at the Waimate Court on charges of breaches of the Defence Act. Both failure to register and failure to attend parades were the charges. Edward, a lad just 17 years old, pleaded not guilty on the grounds that he had been away at Omarama, and seems to have avoided a fine.

Edward registered for recruitment at the Defence Office in Christchurch on 13 May 1915. He had registered for compulsory military training at Waimate and was just twenty years old when he enlisted on 11 October 1915. One wonders if his uncle followed to protect the young Edward. Initially Ted was deemed unfit on account of a deficient chest measurement, but this was soon rectified – he was considered fit when his chest measured 35 inches. At this time his parents were living at Ashley Street, Rangiora, but by the time of his death his mother had moved to Gloucester Street, Christchurch, which address Ted gave. He was working at Methven, for the same employer as his uncle Frank.

Edward Sole and his uncle, Frank Wills, both with the Infantry, were among the “specials” who formed up in the barracks, “a good, sturdy lot, full of high spirits.” They left Christchurch for Trentham on 11 October 1915, after marching through the city streets, accompanied by bands playing lively march tunes. The Mayor wished them farewell - “. . . . I wish you good-bye and good luck. Your country needs you, and we feel proud that you have responded to the call, that you are prepared to risk everything: no man can do more than offer his life to the Empire.” And the spectators gave three hearty cheers. And so they departed at 7.45 p.m. for the port by a special train. How many, young and not so young, met the same fate as Edward and Frank?

Edward embarked at Wellington on 5 February 1916 per the “Ulimaroa” with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and disembarked at Suez just over five weeks later. He left Alexandria for France on 7 April. There, affected with diarrhoea like his uncle, he was admitted to hospital on 29 April before rejoining his unit a week before his death. After just seven weeks in France and five days short of his 21st birthday, Edward was killed in action on 31 May at the Somme. His death was the result of a highly explosive shell bursting in the dug-out ten days earlier.

The Sun newspaper of 14 June 1916 reported that Ted was well known and was deservedly popular with a large circle of friends. On the same day a photo of Edward Sole appeared in the same newspaper. The Taranaki Daily News mistakenly reported that Rifleman Edward Sole of the casualty list was from the district. The newspaper promptly corrected a genuine mistake, as he was not connected to the well-known Taranaki family of the same name. The names of Rifleman Edward Sole and Rifleman Richard Frank Wills figured in Casualty List No. 335, one of the heaviest casualty lists issued since the evacuation of Gallipoli.

Death notices for Edward and his uncle Frank Willse appeared in the Lyttelton Times of 17 June 1916. Edward Sole was the dearly beloved and second son of W. H. and E. Sole – “Sudden death, but sudden glory”. In 1917, Ted, “our dear son”, was remembered not only by his loving parents, William and Emma Sole, and family – “He died for his King and country”, but also by his fond sister, Catherine (Kitty) Sole – my daring brother, “He did his duty.”. His loving parents, brothers and sisters remembered again in 1918 –

“He answered to the nation’s call.

We ill could spare our one at all,

And prayed God he would not let him fall —

Our loving boy, Ted.”

In 1919, His parents, brothers and sisters again inserted their notice “In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Edward (Ted), killed somewhere in France, May 31, 1916.” His sister, Sarah Ellen (Nellie) Perham and her husband and son, also inserted a notice in memory of a dear brother – “Loved by all who knew him.” His sister, Mary Annie (Annie) Mann and her husband, remembered their dear brother, too – “Sadly missed, But deeply mourned.” The 1920 In Memoriam notice inserted in the newspaper by Emma and William and their family read – “In fond memory of Edward Sole (Ted), and Frank Wills, died somewhere in France 1916; also our dear Kitty, died December, 1918.

This day brings to memory fresh, ones that have gone to rest,

And we, who think of them to-night, are those who love them best.”

Kitty Sole, who had remembered her brother and uncle in 1917, had married Rifleman Arthur Samuel Boaz in March 1918 and died of pneumonia in hospital in December 1918. Jack Sole (Francis Arthur John Sole) also remembered his dear brother Ted and his Uncle Frank who were killed in France, 1916 and his dear sister Kitty Boaz – “Some day, some time, our eyes shall see the faces sweet to memory.” His sister Mary Anne Mann and her husband also remembered Edward – “Sweet remembrance lasts for ever.”

Edward was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal which, along with the plaque and scroll, were sent to his father. From July 1916, the names of - Sole and Frank Wills featured regularly in the Waimate Daily Advertiser’s Roll of Honour under the heading “The Supreme Sacrifice”. It was from 1st August that Edward was named as Henry Sole. In June 1916 they had been recorded, under the heading “Answered the Call”, as – Sole and Frank Wells. The Waimate Daily Advertiser list of casualties at the front printed on 14 June 1916, recorded Edward as Rifleman E. Hole, as did a few other newspapers; More, however, correctly recorded E. Sole. Only a handful of newspapers recorded him as Edward Sole.

Edward Sole is remembered on the headstone of his grandfather, William Wills, in the Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch. He is buried in the Cite-Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. His name may be inscribed on the Timaru Memorial Wall (as Sole H.) and on the Waimate War Memorial (as Sole H.). The Waimate War Memorial was unveiled following the Anzac Day service on 25 April 1923, the parade reforming to march to the park. Lieutenant-Colonel Newman Wilson, D.S.O., M.C., a Waimate man who served with distinction in the war, was invited to unveil the memorial. ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson said that it was a matter for congratulation to the district and relations of those who are no longer with us that the splendid memorial had been erected. It was an outward expression of the high regard and esteem in which they held those who at the call of duty and danger did their job.

“We who are left behind,” he said, “feel that there is little we can do compared to those who gave their all. We must keep Anzac Day as a holy day and not as a holiday, not only must we tell them the brave story but also must we tell them of the awful cost — through the great sorrow we must learn wisdom.” In conclusion Colonel Wilson said he would repeat the last lines of Kipling’s Recessional Hymn:

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget.

“I unveil this memorial to the glory of God and in honourable memory to those who gave their all for us and freedom.”’ A prayer of dedication, the firing of three volleys and the sounding of the “Last Post” followed, after which many beautiful wreaths were placed at the foot of the arch by returned men and relations of the fallen. The memorial which takes the form of a beautiful arch at Victoria Park records on marble tablets the names of those from the district who died in the Great War. Above the tablets is the inscription: “The glorious dead: the names liveth forever more.” Included among the names are H. Sole and F. Wills.

Edward’s nephew, Eric John Sole, was killed in action in World War Two. He is remembered on the Waimate War Memorial. Another nephew, Raymond David Sole, may have served with the Canadian forces in World War Two. Two cousins – George William Wills and Thomas Arthur Wills – appealed or were appealed for with regard to service.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [31 March 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0107547) [02 April 2015]; CWGC [31 March 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [30 March 2015]; Timaru Herald, 16 April 1913, 26 April 1923, 14 October 1929, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 16 April 1913, 01, 12 & 14 June 191631 July 1916, 01 August 1916, 26 April 1923, Sun, 12 May 1915, 12 October 1915, 01. 13 June 1916, 14 June 1916 [x 2], Press, 14 May 1915, 12 October 1915, 14 June 1916, Evening Post, 13 June 1916, Otago Daily Times, 14 June 1916, New Zealand Herald, 14 June 1916, Ashburton Guardian, 14 June 1916, Otago Daily Times, 14 June 1916, Taranaki Daily News, 14 & 15 June 1916, Lyttelton Times, 17 June 1916, 31 May 1917, 31 May 1918, 31 May 1919, 31 May 1920 (Papers Past) [31 March 2015; 28 December 2015; 09 & 23 April 2016; 30 June 2016; 07 May 2022; 20, 21 & 22 June 2022]; Linwood Cemetery headstone transcriptions (South Canterbury Branch NZSG microfiche cemetery records) [30 March 2016]; Linwood Cemetery burial record (Christchurch City Council online records) [30 March 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [24 April 2016]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file
• Other military personnel file

Related Documents

• SOLE Edward - portriat published in the Sun, 14 June 1916 (pdf, 110.0 KB updated 30-Aug-2016)

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS