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Corporal Edward Standen Monday, 21960 - 4th ( Glamorgmanshire) Company, 1st Battalion imperial Yeomanry. QSA 3 clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. (1901 Clasp)



Edward Monday was born in Kiddeminster, Worcestershire on the 31st of March 1870. He lived at Coventry Street with his parents Joseph and Celina. His baptism took place on May 1st 1870. His father was a carpenter by trade, unfortunately the family came upon hard times and Joseph was recorded living as a paupers inmate at the Birmingham workhouse on Weston Road. During this time Edward was living with his Grandparents Edward and Anne Standen who also lived in Coventry Street.

In 1887 Edward aged just 17 marries Blossom Louise Morley, during this time he is working as a Baker/Confectioner. Alas, the business venture wasn't to last very long, he was in the bankruptcy court in February 1888 trying to annul his bankruptcy notice due to him admitting to being under age and incapable of paying the liabilities of £268. To make matters worse in 1891 he is living with his wife and 2 children at Bromsgrove Street Kidderminster, no occupation recorded. 1892 he moves to Aston, Warwickshire where he has 2 more children before he and his wife Blossom make a move to Glasgow, Scotland. Edward is now employed as a brass founder. It is whilst living in Scotland that Edward Standen Monday enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry.

He attested in Glasgow on the 24th January 1901, interestingly his papers note him as being recruited to the 18th Company 6th Battalion Scottish Yeomanry.(Queens Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanark) which was raised in 1900. Within 24 days of joining the Imperial Yeomanry, Edward was serving with the 4th (Glamorganshire) Company, attached to the 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.




Edward was not one of the 1st contingent of the 4th company. That contingent departed on the 28th February 1900 from Newport, Monmouthshire by train, for Liverpool, where they boarded the SS Cymric for onward transit to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

On the 23 March 1900 they disembarked at Cape Town, the Company joined the other companies of the 1st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry.
These included the 1st and 2nd company (Wiltshire) 3rd company (Gloucestershire) and the 63rd (Wiltshire)
Major Wyndham-Quin, was commander of the Glamorgan Company under the Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. R.C.W.Challoner.
The Battalion then joined General Rundle's Column at Bloemfontein and as part of the 16th Brigade of the 8th Division served mainly in the North Eastern areas of the Orange Free State.



21960- Corporal, Edward Standen Monday arrived in South Africa during February 1901. He was aged 30 years and 9 months. Standing at 5 foot 9 inches tall with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and dark hair he commenced his service with the 4th company, he did have previous militia training as he had served with B squadron Worcester Yeomanry.
However, his time in the 4th company equated to 283 days of which 218 were in South Africa. After 2 months of arriving in theatre he was dangerously wounded near Bethlehem. The skirmish took place on Sunday 28th of April 1901. Edward received serious wounds to the abdomen and left hip. His active service in South Africa was fairly brief due to his injuries, and he was Invalided home on August the 28th 1901. On his return to England he was deemed medically unfit for further service and was discharged at Shorncliffe on the 4th of November 1901.



He acknowledged that he was entitled to a final payment and was willing to wait for a final settlement after his discharge. This may have included additional disability allowance. It is believed he made his way back to his family. The financial settlement must have been crucial to Edward as he had a wife and 6 children waiting for his return. However, this is where my research lacks the finer details on Edwards return to the family home in Overdale Gardens Glasgow late 1901. I am not sure if Edward ever returned to the family home. What I do know, is that in
1903, Edward Standen Monday has sailed on the ship Columbia and has arrived in New York. He moves to New Orleans, Louisiana. He finds work as a steward and has begun a naturalisation petition to become a U S citizen. He arrived in the US on February 15th 1903. He resided in Louisiana in 1905. Has he gone to make a better living and set up a home for his family to emigrate from Scotland to be with him? I found US paperwork which states that Edward recognised his wife and 6 children in 1908. However, during 1913 his memory is fading somewhat and he doesn't seem to remember his own birthdate, only 2 of his 6 children recognised and no mention of his wife or families whereabouts and location. However, 1913 was to become a memorable year for Edward in a different circumstance. He marries a Miss Anna Zaun who was 25 years younger than Edward, and so, begins his new life in the United States. He goes on to have 2 more children with Anna. William & Mildred. Having cross checked Ancestry, there are a few family trees which do come to the same conclusion as myself, Edward Standen Monday is believed to have deserted his wife and 6 children in Scotland for a new life, wife and family in Bergen New Jersey. Mr Monday died on a Tuesday 3rd January 1956 at Newark New Jersey aged 86.

Thanks for posting Edward's story Dave
He certainly led a full and well travelled life during his 86 years!
Cheers Steve

Cheers Steve.
I agree, he certainly was an interesting character to research.
I didn't include all the other references, but he has paperwork dating 1903 to 1907 as an agent in Glasgow. He turns up in Droitwich on the electoral rolls 1907 to 1914. More detective work to do, as he is supposedly living in the U S around those dates.

Kind regards

Dave....


Ps.....I still believe he deserted his family in Glasgow though.