They Shall Grow Not Old

Edward was the only son of the Rev Ernest Skinner, who was appointed to the parish of St Peter and St Paul Chacombe in late 1915. He remained there until his retirement in 1931. It is quite possible that the Rev Skinner was primarily responsible for the provision of the memorial tablet in the church porch.
Edward appears to have joined the Rifle Brigade in February 1915 with the rank of Private (7499). In February 1916 he was posted to "D" Coy. 1st/8th Bn. Manchester Regiment in the front line.
At this stage of the war, the main feature was the use of heavy artillery to bombard enemy lines, aircraft were appearing overhead and tanks had made their first appearance on the battle field in September 1916. Chlorine gas was used by the Germans during the 2nd Battle of Ypres in May 1917.
From this distance in time it is perhaps difficult to comprehend the awfulness into which the Great War was drifting.
The War Diaries of the 1 (Ardwick)/8 Manchesters show that he died from enemy shelling.
Following a period in reserve the sequence of events during early September were as follows:
1st Sep – POPERINGHE, CAMP ERIE – Company training. Enemy aircraft passed overhead at 9.30pm. Reported to have been brought down outside YPRES
2nd Sept – Church Parade. Heavy rain at 11am
3rd Sept – Company training. Considerable ariel activity all day, bombs dropped in rear area
4th Sept – Training continued, ariel activity continued
5th Sept – Training in am. 3 OR wounded following high explosive shelling
6th Sept – Numerous bombs dropped by enemy aircraft during the night
7th Sept – Brigade Orders, going into the line for 2 days to relieve the Lancashire Fusiliers. Train to ASYLUM, YPRES then marched via MENIN GATE, MILLCOTE to SQUARE FARM.
8th Sept – Relief completed at 2.45am ‘D’ Coy under Captain HORSFELL on left front. Just after relief a number of gas shells were fired near our reserve company. SQUARE FARM shelled with 150mm at 3.25pm and then at 5 min intervals. Between 7.15pm and 7.45 the enemy put up green and red lights in the direction of BECK HOUSE. Heavy barrage resulted on POMMERN, REDOUBT, SQUARE FARM and LOW FARM. Repeated at 9.50pm and 11.15pm. 4 OR killed 27 OR wounded. A fine day.
9th Sept – Hostile shelling slight during the night then at irregular intervals during the day. Killed: 2Lt E D SKINNER and 5 OR. Wounded: 2Lt OLIVER and 21 OR
He is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery (Plot I. E. 62). His mother is buried with his father in the churchyard at St Peter and St Paul. His sisters grave is adjacent.