Family seek war hero's lost years

THE family of a WWI hero, who wrote critically acclaimed diaries about his five years on the frontline and now lies in an unmarked and neglected grave, are appealing for information about the time he spent in Warrington after the war.
Diaries written by Private Edward Roe during his time spent fighting in Northern France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia were discovered and published in 2002 – over 50 years after his death.
Critics believe his first hand accounts of the battles he saw are some of the best available. His original scripts are now on permanent display in a museum at Preston Army Barracks and have been edited into a book.
But his family in Ireland lost touch with him after the war and know little of his later life, which was spent in Warrington. He died in 1952, aged 66 and was buried in Warrington Cemetery, where his grave now lies neglected.
Now his great-nephew has picked up the trail and is trying to piece together a picture of Edward’s final years. He is appealing for anyone in Warrington who may remember him or have photos to get in touch.
Pat Freeman, of Westheath, Ireland, said: “We were a little disappointed that the army never did anything with his grave after leaving something so great behind him!
“This is a long shot but I was wondering if any of your readers might remember him.
“We travelled over to Preston to see his diaries on display in Fulwood Barracks last year. It was so moving. I wanted to take them away with me. It would have been amazing to read them written in his handwriting.
“He was my mother’s uncle, my grandfather’s brother and I know a bit about his early life but there is a big gap about his time in Warrington. He was a remarkable man and I’d love to hear from anyone who has information about him.”
After the war Edward moved to Birchwood to work for the RAF and the family thinks he spent time boarding at 182 Gorsey Lane, but that’s where the trail runs cold.
Mr Freeman is keen to find out what happened to Edward Roe during his “lost years” in Warrington.
Edward Roe’s diaries were published and called ‘The Diary of an Old Contemptible: From Mons to Baghdad 1914-1919’, edited by Peter Downham, who discovered them while clearing out old store rooms at Fulwood Barracks almost 10 years ago.
A review of the book by the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment reads: “The diarist was one of the lucky few to survive the five years of conflict, albeit being wounded severely on two occasions.
“Yet, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of all is the fact they are written by a professional private soldier possessing the most extraordinary natural talent for descriptive writing.
“The fact that Roe remained a fighting man means that his diaries describe the daily life and conditions in the frontline.”
Anyone who has any information about Edward Roe should contact Pat Freeman at [email protected].

Pictures show the diary at the museum, the book cover and the neglected grave at Warrington Cemetery.