EDWARD JAMES SELBY 1890–1961

OBE

Order of the British Empire

Born 21st July 1890, Nottingham

Married 1st February 1918 to Amy Tarbat, St. Enoch’s Church, Dundee

Children: Elizabeth M. born 26 December 1919 in Kensington, James R.T. born 20 July 1921 in Brentford.

Died 16th May 1961, 52 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London, age 71

1891 Census

Age 8 months living at 8 Arundel Street, Lenton, Nottingham with father James, an optician and surgical instrument maker, mother Fanny Elizabeth and two servants.

1901 Census

Age 10 living on Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent with father James, optician (surgical and instrument maker), mother Frances (née Shipstone), sister Mary Shipstone, 9, brother Ellis Gunn 3 months and two servants.

1909

Enrolled at Downing College, Cambridge

1911 Census

Age 20 living at Highfield House, Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent. Highfield House had 12 rooms; it was on the section of Cropwell Road between the A52 and A46. Edward was a medical student. James’s mother Frances died in 1913; his father died in 1938.

10 August 1914.  Registered as a doctor in the Medical Directory

Military Service:

Rank: Temporary Major in 1919, later appointed Lieut. Colonel

Military Unit: Royal Army Medical Corps

Attached to 24th Division

Theatre of War: France and Flanders

Medals Awarded: OBE, Gazette date 3.6.1919; Mentioned in Despatches awarded three times, 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory

On 5th October 1916, three days after receiving the news that their son, Captain Edward James Selby, Royal Army Medical Corps, had been killed in action, the War Office confirmed that that had been a mistake; a confusion with a similarly named officer.

Article from ‘Nottingham Daily Express,’ 6th October 1916.

WRONGLY REPORTED KILLED.

“Captain E. J. Selby, R.A.M.C., son of Mr. J. Selby, of Redcot, Woodborough-road, Nottingham, who will have the doubtful pleasure of reading his own death notice. His family, three days ago, received news from the War Office that he had been killed in action, as follows: – “Deeply regret to inform you that Captain E. J. Selby, R.A.M.C., was killed in action September 27th. The Army Council express their sympathy.”

“Yesterday morning, [5th October 1916] Mr. Selby was considerably astonished to receive a letter from the gallant officer, written from France on September 30th – three days after he had been officially killed. The letter stated that he was perfectly well; evidently he was not then aware of the announcement of his death.

“Later, yesterday, there followed the following further message from the War Office, indicating that an error had been made: “Report telegraphed you October 2nd as received from France. Report receive to-day Captain G. P. Selby, R.A.M.C., attached Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action. Further inquiries proceeding.” 

Other information

Address on Medals Roll Cards: Sidmouth Lodge, 31 South Ealing Road, Ealing, W.5. Known to have lived elsewhere in Ealing 1923-1961. He remained in the R.A.M.C. but length of service unknown – the 1939 Register cites him as a retired medical practitioner.

1920: Absent voters list address ‘Redcot’, Woodborough Road, Nottingham.

1921 Census

Address: 31 St Ealing Road, Ealing

Employment: Medical Practitioner

Household: wife Amy and daughter Mary, servant Sarah Caufield

From the 1939 Register

Address: 52 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London

Occupation: retired medical practitioner

Household: living with wife Florence A., born 13 March 1887, daughter Elizabeth, son James, medical student, and cook Mary Henessey.

WW2

1943: Regular Army Emergency Commission, Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Mentioned in Despatches 1944 during service in Italy

From The London Gazette, 28.06.1953: Lieut. Colonel James Edward Selby, O.B.E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Awarded the Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John Of Jerusalem.

Died 1961. Estate  (information from Phil Chamberlain’s family tree on Ancestry).

Reason for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour:

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent as a child and student.