Edward Austin Whyman was born on 31st August 1889 at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, He was the son of Thomas Edward Whyman, a foreman fitters assistant, and Mary Hannah Whyman née Austin of 13 Ashover Terrace, Mannning Street, Nottingham.
His father Thomas Edward was born in Ashton Oundle, Northamptonshire, in 1868 and his mother Mary Hannah Austin in 1861 in Stilton, Huntingdonshire. They were married at St Peters Church, Oundle, Northamptonshire, on 14th January 1889 and went on to have 2 further children, Mary Sophia Newham b1894 Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, and John William b1896 at Kirkby Laythorpe, Sleaford.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 13 Ashover Terrace, Manning Street, Nottingham, and are shown as Thomas Edward 43 yrs a foreman fitters assistant, he is living with his wife Mary Hannah 50 yrs and their son John William 15 yrs an errand boy.
In the 1911 census we find Edward Austin as a member of the Royal Marines Light Infantry in the rank of private, 21 yrs of age and single, serving in HMS Suffolk at sea off Genoa, Italy.
He married Annie Attwell (born 24th October 1887) of 26, Elmsthorpe Avenue, Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, at All Saints Church, Nottingham, on 6th July 1916.