Edward Sweeney was born in Prestonhall, Rosewell in 1891 to Michael and Helen Sweeney. His mum had 3 children from a previous marriage: John, Helen and Mary Gourley. Michael and Helen had 2 children together, Edward and Ann. The family were living at 33 Lothian Street, Rosewell at the time of the 1901 census, which records Edward as aged 9 years and his father Michael as a miner at Whitehill Colliery.

On 10 October 1916, Edward enlisted in the 1/1st Highland Cyclist Battalion, serving in the UK until July 1917, when he was drafted to Drake Battalion of the 63 (Royal Naval) Division. At the outbreak of the war, the Naval Reserve had over 20,000 reservists, with insufficient ships to utilise that number of men. Therefore, an infantry division was formed keeping the naval traditions, with the soldiers given naval ranks such as able seaman or stoker and the naval battalions taking the names of naval heroes. Therefore, while Edward had the rank able seaman, the only ship he would have been on was the one taking him over to France.

He joined his new battalion in France in September 1917 when preparations were being made for the Cambrai operations, which took place from the 20 November – 30 December 1917. This was to be a British attack, originally conceived as a very large-scale raid, that employed new artillery techniques and massed tanks. It was initially very successful, with large gains of ground being made, but German reserves brought the advance to a halt. Ten days later, a German counter-attack regained much of the ground. Ultimately a disappointing and costly outcome, but Cambrai is now seen by historians as the blueprint for the successful “Hundred Days Offensive" of 1918.

On 30/31 December, German troops dressed in white camouflage suits surprised British troops in snow on the southern part of the Cambrai front. A difficult defensive action took place in an area called Welsh Ridge with heavy losses including Edward, who was killed during the fierce fighting that took place in allied trenches.

Able Seaman Edward Sweeney is buried at Marcoing British Cemetery, 7kms south west of Cambrai. He is also commemorated on the memorial plaque in Rosewell Memorial Hall, Midlothian.