Edward Henry Galley was born and raised in Springfield, the son of a carman. Prior to joining the army in 1940 he worked for a Chelmsford firm of coal merchants. He was sent to Egypt and was wounded at El Alamein. Later he went to Burma and was fatally wounded there in January 1944. His home was in Manor Road, Chelmsford.
Edward was born in Springfield on 13th January 1915, the son of Great Leighs-born Robert Angelo Galley (1878-1949) and Chelmsford-born Jessie Martha Galley (nee Hymas) (1882-1956).
His parents had married on 27th May 1901 at St. Mary's Church in Great Baddow. At the time Edward's father was a 22 year-old labourer living in Great Baddow; his mother was four years younger and also lived in the parish.
Edward was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Springfield on 19th July 1919, along with three of his brotthers, at which time his father was a carman living in Springfield.
Edward's siblings were: Robert Frederick Galley (1901-1976), Alfred Galley (1902-1969), Nellie Jessie Galley (1904-1905), Florence Galley (born in 1905), Ernest Galley (1907-1982), Arthur Joseph Galley (1910-1912), William George Galley (1911-1973), Walter Valentine Galley (1913-1985), Herbert Raymond Galley (1917-1994), Donald Leslie Galley (1919-1995), and Leonard David Galley (1921-2006). Leonard became a footballer who played for Chelmsford City.
rior to the war Edward worked for Messrs Coote and Warren, coal merchants of Chelmsford.
Edward joined the Essex Regiment early in 1940 and later transferred to served as Private 6022790 in the 4th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He was sent to Egypt during May 1942 and was wounded at El Alamein. He left the desert after recuperation amd went was sent to India.
Edward Henry GALLEY, Private, 4th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Died from wounds in Burma. Aged 28
Edward was again wounded on 11th January 1944 in Burma (today's Myanmar) and died the following day. He was 28 years old and four days short of his 29th birthday.
Today he lies in Taukkjan War Cemetery (grave 4. J. 21) which was created from 1951 bringing together graves from cemeteries in Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktila and Sahmaw.
At the time of his death Edward was one of four serving sons of Robert and Jessie of 64 Manor Road in Chelmsford.
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