A superb Great War ‘Battle of Loos’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Company Quarter-Master Sergeant E. Canning, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, for his conspicuous gallantry on 25 September 1915 during the attack on Madagascar Trench, when, after all the officers had been killed or wounded and his Battalion had suffered 650 casualties, he organised and took command of the remnants of the force, with only 46 men being assembled at the end of the day. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, he was killed in action near Bernafay Wood during the Battle of the Somme on 4 July 1916

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9388 C.Q.M. Sjt: E. Canning. 6/K.O.S.B.); 1914-15 Star (9388 C,Q,M, Sjt. E. Canning. K.O. Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. E. Canning.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Canning) extremely fine (5) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 November 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on the 25th September, 1915. During an attack on the enemy’s trenches, and when all the Officers had been killed or wounded, Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Canning organised and took command of the remnants of the battalion and assisted another battalion in holding our line of trenches. Upon the arrival of an Officer on the 26th September, who took command, he continued to give very valuable assistance, although suffering from illness. On the morning of the 30th September, accompanied by an Officer, he attempted to recover the body of another Officer. Throughout the operations his bravery and example gave great encouragement to all ranks.’

Edward Canning was born at Sunderland, County Durham, in 1888, and attested for service with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 1905, being posted to the 1st Battalion and serving with them in Gibraltar and India. Transferring to the Army Reserve in 1912 following completion of his term of engagement, he was employed with the South Shields Post Office before being mobilised following the outbreak of the Great War, and was posted to the newly constituted 6th (Service) Battalion, which had been formed at Berwick-on-Tweed in August 1914. The battalion was assigned to the 28th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division, and Canning landed at Boulogne with his unit on 12 May 1915.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his conspicuous gallantry and ability on the 25th September 1915, during the attack on Madagascar Trench, Loos - within the first hour of the attack the Battalion had suffered 650 casualties, and at the end of the day there were only 46 men uninjured. Appointed Regimental Sergeant Major shortly afterwards, he commissioned Second Lieutenant, ‘for services in the Field’, on 15 April 1916.

On 4 July 1916, the 6th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers were entrenched at Bernafay Wood in the Somme, and were subjected to a heavy enemy bombardment for the majority of the day. The Battalion War Diary confirms that Edward Canning was one of three officers killed in action on this day out of a total of 5 officers and 130 other rank casualties. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.