Edward Gillham was born on 23 November 1881 at Ringmer, Sussex, one of the five children of Edward and Sarah Ann Gillham.

He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman 2nd Class on 2 October 1897, rising to Boy 1st Class on 8 July 1898, after which he served in HM Ships MINOTAUR, RODNEY, VOLAGE, JUNO, DUKE of WELLINGTON, TAURANGA, during which he was rated Able Seaman on 11 April 1901. He was advanced to Leading Seaman on 20 April 1903 and to Petty Officer on 1 December 1908.

He married Susan Elizabeth Spyer in 1906. She bore him two daughters, Joan and Hilda. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 24 and on the E49 memorial at Baltasound, Unst in the Shetlands.