Unveiling the Storrington mystery of WWI hero Edith

For the last year, Storrington Museum in School Lane has been labouring night and day to uncover the World War One heroes of the village.

This included the restoration of the original Storrington Roll of Honour that had remained missing for decades, until the two final pieces to the puzzle were uncovered.

The roll includes all the names of those who fell during the war between 1914 and 1918 with a link to Storrington (although the museum intends to add some additional names).

Edith Ingram is one of those that appeared on the list, and as the only female to be mentioned, the team at the museum were intrigued to learn more about the mystery behind the woman.

After picking up her weekly County Times, Henfield resident Jane Lang read an appeal by the museum to find Edith’s relatives.

“I knew about Edith since my childhood because we had the Red Cross certificate that was awarded to her,” said Jane, 65, Edith’s great niece.

Jane arrived at Storrington Museum last week with her husband Peter, carrying a wealth of photographs, belongings and other documents of Edith’s that had been saved since her sudden death in 1918.

This was not the only reason that Edith was a constant flame in Jane’s life - they share a few incredible coincidences too.

Edith lived and worked in Brighton as a nurse, but decided to join Storrington’s Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) so she could contribute to the Great War.

“I always wanted to be a nurse myself,” said Jane, “and my dad always wanted me to join the army, so I combined the two.”

But an even more remarkable fact was to link her to the Victorian relative.

Peter, 68, said: “Edith was killed August 14 1918, Jane’s birthday is August 14 1948.”

Jane interjected: “I definitely have a spiritual side and I always felt there’s been a connection.”

Picking up a decorative silver belt buckle, Jane explained that Edith wore it when she worked as a nurse, and in turn Jane did the same.

“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” added Jane.

Edith was born in North Devon to her school teacher father, Herbert Ingram and mother, Sarah. She also had two sisters and one brother.

After moving around to various locations and her father’s stint in a mental institution, the family ended up living in Washington where Edith’s parents are now buried.

“Storrington was the nearest VAD detachment so that would have attracted people from the surrounding areas,” said Peter.

Although Edith travelled the world as a nurse and put herself on the line to tend to wounded soldiers, she did not forget to write back to her loved ones, which can be seen in a little Christmas card.

On the card is a symbol which represents the South African Heavy Artillery.

Edith wrote ‘Stuart’s regiment’, which could be referring to a boyfriend.