Edgar, John Dennis
4804077 Serjeant, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
photo from Kay Edgar, his sister
died 17th May 1944 aged 25
Dennis was born on 10th November 1918, the second child of John Wesley Edgar and Ada Olive Edgar (nee Pearson) of High Street, Scotter. Their other children were Eileen, Brian and Kathleen (Kay).
He was a bright child and passed his scholarship at the village school to go to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Gainsborough.
Dennis then trained in Gainsborough as a draughtsman in the Drawing Office of the engineering works of Rose Brothers Limited. He became a member of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen.
Dennis was very sociable and had a wide circle of friends. He had strong Christian convictions and attended the Methodist New Connexion Chapel on West Street.
He enlisted into the Army on 15th September 1939. Just over a year later, on 12th December 1940, he was released to go back to his former employer for war work. The company was making many items for the Royal Air Force. Dennis was recalled on 5th January 1942.
He met Elsie Gurnell who was also in the Army. They were married at St. George's Church on Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe on 30th May 1942 and lived near Watford where they were serving at the time. They had two girls, Janet and Denise, but sadly he died in Mount Vernon Hospital at Northwood before his youngest daughter was born.
Sergeant Dennis Edgar is buried in Scotter Cemetery and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial at Woking, Surrey. He is also commemorated, along with Ronald Bell, at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Gainsborough.
Years later Elsie emigrated to New Zealand to join Denise and her husband Tom Peacock. In 2005 her ashes were brought back to Scotter to be interred with her husband.
The word 'reunited' is on their burial stone.