Edwin's Story.
Birkenhead News 18 May 1918
MILITARY FUNERAL AT UPTON
A large concourse of people were gathered at the Parish Church at Upton on Saturday last to pay their last tribute of respect to a local hero who has made the supreme sacrifice. Pte. Edwin Rimmer, second son of Mr E. Rimmer, gardener, Upton, joined the 10th Cheshires early on in the war, and served for a considerable time in France, where he recently was seriously wounded, and subsequently succumbed in hospital in England. The Upton unit of Volunteers were in attendance at the funeral and carried out the duties of bearers and firing party. The floral tributes were numerous, including one from the Volunteers and also one from the Upton Ladies Knitting Party, who have done so much for our soldier’s comforts. The Vicar, the Rev. Canon Bellamy, who has just been offered the appointment of Chaplain to the Wirral Battalion C.V.R., conducted the service assisted by the Rev. B. Bell, minister of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. T. G. O’Feely presided at the organ, rendering with deep religious fervour the musical items. The Vicar in his address, said there had been many funerals in the Church during the last 30 years, but never had there been a funeral of this character before. It was, at any rate, in that respect absolutely unique. They paid, today homage to a young man who went out to fight for his King and country, and also for what they implicitly believed to be the cause of liberty, justice and right. So it was that they gathered together to express their highest esteem and heartfelt gratitude for the courage and devotion the young soldier had shown. In doing this they also looked upon him as representing others from the parish who have also exhibited in their deaths this supreme call of duty. The names on the roll of honour were read over, and the Vicar remarked that not one of them was forgotten at any time, but were more especially remembered on that solemn occasion.