Selfe, ED
(1895 - 1918)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
8th May 1895
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1907 - 1912
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Clovilly, Park Hill, Clapham
REGIMENT
9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
FINAL RANK:
Captain
DATE OF DEATH:
7th August 1918
AGE AT DEATH:
23
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Ypres
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Nine Elms British Cemetery. XV C 2
Captain Edgar Donald Selfe
Donald was born on May 8th 1895, the younger of two sons of schoolmaster Claude Selfe, and his wife, Margaret. He started at Dulwich in 1907 and was at the College for five years, leaving in the spring of 1912 whilst a member of the Classical Remove; in his final year he was a member of the 3rd XV. After leaving he took a position in the London offices of the Government of South Africa and was also a regular player for the OAs. After some time he moved to the London and South Western Bank, gaining banking experience in the hope of later being able to serve abroad.
In October 1914 Donald enlisted as a member of the Artists Rifles, and spent over a year training, including time spent in St. Omer, France. In late 1915 he took up a commission in the Norfolk Regiment with whom he served through much of the Somme the following year, being mentioned in dispatches for his actions at Guillemont. He was promoted to Lieutenant that Novembe, and shortly afterwards sent over to the Ypres sector. He went on to spend the next eighteen months or so serving around Ypres, during which time he was also promoted once more, to Captain. On August 7th 1918 he was performing an inspection of the trenches when he was struck in the head by a machine gun bullet, dying instantlly.
