Inscription
597 A/BOMBARDIER
E J SHIER
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
26TH JUNE 1917 AGE 32
+
ETERNAL PEACE
Further Information
Son of James William Shier and Mary Ann Shier (née Hart), of 25, Fitzroy St., Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Born 1883, Ventnor.
Census Information
1891 : James and Mary Shier, with Edwin aged 7, are at 2, Dudley Cottage, Dudley Road, Ventnor. James Shier is a Coachman.
1901 : William J and Mary Shier, with Edward (sic) aged 17, are at 14, Fitzroy Street, Sandown. William J Shier is a Coachman,
and Edward Shier (sic) is a Groom, in Livery Stables.
1911 : Mary Hart Shier, with her sons including Edwin aged 26, are at Castle Cottage, Fitzroy Street, Sandown, Edwin Shier
is a Boots in a Hotel.
Service Information
Acting Bombardier 597 Edwin James Shier, 1/4th Hants Bty., Royal Field Artillery.
Attested for service with the 4th Hants Bty, R.F.A. at Ventnor, 3 March 1909. He was 5 ft. 5½ in. tall, and 10 st. in weight.
On the outbreak of WW I, He was sent to India, being there from 8 October 1914 to 10 October 1915, and then discharged from the Army on
termination of his period of service on 2 March 1916. Although he was declared fit for Home Service, it seems his health was not good.
Part of Shier's Service records (© The National Archives)
This postcard is believed to show a group of Island R.F.A. Territorials, probably 4th Hants Howitzers, at Sandown Station prior to
training and embarkation for India. If so, the group probably includes Edwin James Shier. The man marked as 'one of my boyfriends
who died in the war 1914' is possibly [Gilbert] Roy Phillips. The card was marked up by Olive Harvey, an aunt of Peter Austin-Smith, who kindly supplied
the image.
click images to enlarge
Casualty Information
Died : 26 June 1917 aged 32.
Buried at Sandown Christ Church Churchyard.
CWGC record ...
Documents and newspaper cuttings
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, June 29, 1917
Page 3
We regret to record the death of Mr. Edwin James Shier, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Shier,
of Sandown and formerly of Ventnor, who passed peacefully away on Tuesday morning, after a long illness.
Mr. Shier, who was only 32 years of age, was for six years in the Militia and later joined the Island
Howitzer Territorials and at the outbreak of war was called up. He at once volunteered for active
service and went out with the first expeditionary force to India, being attached to the Hants Howitzer Battery, R.F.A.,
during which time he held the rank of Bombardier. After serving in India for one year he was invalided home,
and in March of last year took his discharge, being unable to ride and be with horses of which he was fond.
Since then he has been failing in health.
Acknowledgments
Janet Griffin for newspaper research.
Peter Austin-Smith for the postcard of the group of soldiers.
