Albert, known as Edward to his family, was born in Melton on 3rd May 1887 and, in 1901, he was attending school in Melton. By 1911, he was working with his father as a gardener for James Burness of the Lodge and in 1915, Edward married Minnie Vale in Leiston, Suffolk.

Edward enlisted in the army in late 1915 and was posted to join the 37th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, who went on to become the 108th Company Labour Corps. Formed at Falmer in Sussex on 6th June 1916, they were posted to France in the following July and by September, were in the Somme area. The primary function of the battalion was constructing roads to enable men and supplies to be moved around the front line.

An article in the Woodbridge Reporter and Wickham Market Gazette from 29th November 1917 said:

Home From France

Pte Edward Read, of the Labour Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, son of Mr and Mrs Isaac Read of Melton, has been home on fourteen days furlough from France, it being the first leave he has had since he went to France 18 months ago. His brother, Lance Corporal Sidney Read, Suffolk Regiment, was at home at the same time on 10 days hospital leave. He received a scalp wound on October 14th, this being the second time he has been wounded, the first on Jan 13th 1916.

Edward remained with the 108th Labour Corps throughout the war and was discharged when they were disbanded in 1919.

In 1939, Edward and Minnie were living in Leiston. He died in 1960 at the age of seventy-three. For his war service, Edward received the British War and Victory Medals.