Edward Albert Wigham was born at the Isabella Colliery in Blyth, Northumberland, England the son of John and Elizabeth Wigham, of Blyth. He left school in England when he was 13 years old. He had worked as a coal miner in England operating an electric engine before coming to Canada in 1929 with his wife, Lily, and older brother, George. They settled at James River Bridge, near Sundrie, Alberta and began farming on a leased farm.
Edward was living with his wife, his son and daughter, on their farm in James River Bridge, Alberta when he enlisted at Number 13 Depot in Calgary, Alberta on 18 March 1941. He stated his trade as joiner (carpenter). He was 38 years old at the time.
Edward joined the Royal Canadian Engineers and started his training in Camrose, Alberta at Number 131 Training Centre. On 20 May, he went to A6 Canadian Engineer Training Centre at Camp Dundurn in Saskatchewan. By 10 October, his leadership ability earned an appointment to Acting Lance Corporal in October. By 2 May 1942, after A6 Canadian Engineer Training Centre moved to Camp Chilliwack, BC, he was promoted with pay to Acting Sergeant. However, almost immediately before deploying to the United Kingdom, by his own request he reverted to the rank of Sapper but was appointed Acting Lance Corporal two days later.
Edward arrived in Glasgow on 10 October 1942 and sent to the Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Hampshire where he was qualified Pioneer Group ‘C’. In April 1943, he started training at Number 1 Field Survey Depot, a new unit of near 70 all ranks, formed based on British experiences in North Africa. Their primary task was to provide maps produced by Field Survey Companies, down to division level and they trained right up until the invasion of Europe. They arrived in France on 11 July 1944. Since arriving at the Survey Depot, Edward went up and down the ranks until settling finally as Acting Sergeant in September 1944.
One of the biggest tasks assigned to RCE survey units was to produce and deliver maps to the artillery in support of major operations leading to the closure of the Falaise Gap in late August 1944. They continued with similar tasks after the breakout from the Normandy Bridgehead, through the Channel Ports and into the Low Countries.
On 16 October 1944, Edward was a passenger returning to Antwerp from Ghent. At about 2100 hours, the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle blinded the driver and despite slowing down and pulling over to avoid a collision, his vehicle was struck. All three passengers were injured, but Edward’s head injury proved fatal and He was pronounced dead when he arrived at Number 3 Casualty Clearing Station. The driver of the other vehicle was never found.
Acting Sergeant Edward Albert Wigham is buried in the Schoonselhof Cemetery in Antwerp, Belgium.
Return to Part 5: Tributes to the Fallen Sappers of the Scheldt
