Edward was born 18th November 1883, at St Albans in Hertfordshire. Although his father had previously been married to Ann Lowe, it appears that Edward was the only son of Mark and Charlotte Warner. Mark was a Platelayer Foreman on the Railways who was born in Wheathampstead around 1832 and his mother Charlotte (formerly Barber) was from London, being born around 1841.

By 1901 the 17 year old was a Straw Hat stiffener and, probably inspired by the South African War stories that impressed so many young men into joining the army around that time, enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regiment late in 1903. He served in India before the battalion returned to home shores in 1908 and was stationed in Ireland when war broke out.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions as desrcibed in the citation below:

"For most conspicuous bravery near ' Hill 60 ' on 1st May, 1915. After Trench 46 had been vacated by our troops, after a gas attack, Private Warner entered it single-handed in order to prevent the enemy taking possession. Reinforcements were sent to Private Warner, but could not reach him owing to the gas. He then came back and brought up more men, by which time he was completely exhausted, but the trench was held until the enemy's attack ceased. This very gallant soldier died shortly afterwards from the effects of gas poisoning."