Edward Anstee (1879-1917)

by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.

See ‘Anstey: A Complete History From the Norman Invasion to World War One‘ for much more on the Flamstead Anstees. In addition to biographies of various Anstey individuals who make up this sub-branch, the book contains a plethora of Anstey research and statistics, including an analysis of how the Flamstead Anstees fit into the pedigree descendent from Hubert de Anesti, the 12th century originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.

FL 20. Edward [Edwin] Anstee: He was born in 1879 in Luton to parents Daniel Anstee (FL 6) and Mary Ann Burgess – he was registered at birth as ‘Edwin Anstee’ but known as Edward and informally as Ted. He was baptised on 21 April 1881 in Luton (as Edwin), living at Duke Street, Luton in 1891 with his widowed mother. In 1900 in Luton he married Louisa Fox and they had a son: 

• Cyril Edward Anstee (b 1900, died 1907).

In the 1901 Census the family were living at 83, Cowper Street, Luton where he was a straw hat blocker – they were still in Cowper Street, at number 17, in the 1911 Census.

A couple of years after the outbreak of World War One, in July 1916, he was conscripted into the Army in Bedford as a Private (Service Number: 30849) joining the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He died on May 3rd, 1917, fighting with Company ‘D’ of the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, during the unsuccessful British attack on Chérisy near Arras during the first day of the Third Battle of the Scarp, part of the April/May 1917 Battle of Arras in France.

The ‘National Roll of the Great War‘ has an entry for him, noting “ANSTEE E. Private 7th Bedfordshire Regiment. He joined in July 1916 and in the following November was drafted to France where he took part in several engagements. He was killed in action at Arras in May 1917 and was entitled to the General Service and Victory medals. 17 Cowper Street, Luton“

He is commemorated on Bay 5 of the Arras Memorial in Pas de Calais, France – the Commonwealth War Graves Commission adding “Husband of Louisa Anstee, of 17, Cowper St., Luton, Beds.”

Anybody who would like to add anything to this biography, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.