Edward was born in Dartford, Kent to Charles Israel and Louisa née Cole. Edward married Lilian Garrett in 1937 and their son Patrick was born in 1938. Their second child Anne was born four months before Edward was killed.

Edward was the air gunner in Wellington T2909 which departed at 23.36 from RAF Finningley on a night operation to Dusseldorf. The aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances. Possibly, it was shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Dr. Horst Patuschka of the 7./NJG 2, who was flying a Ju 88 C-6 from Gilze-Rijen airfield.
Four crew members are missing in action:
Pilot, Sgt. P. Prime R/79255 RCAF, washed up near Zandvoort, Holland and buried in Amsterdam cemetery.
Observer, Sgt. H. Buchan 1355712 RAF, Runnymede Memorial panel 79
W/Op, P/O. E.B. Willoughby J/85159 RCAF, Runnymede Memorial panel 101
W/Op A/G, Sgt. J. Tait R/83838 RCAF, Runnymede Memorial panel 107
A/G, Sgt. E.C. Cohen 840499 RAF, Runnymede Memorial panel 80