Edward was the younger son of Alan Moy-Thomas and his wife, Gertrude. He had an older sister. Moy Thomas were coal and builder merchants for many years. In 1914, they had six branches in the London area. Alan was born at 14 Grosvenor Street, W. In 1911, there were six servants including a nursemaid to look after the three children.
He was educated at Eton and Matriculated in 1929 and followed his brother, James Alan, to Christ Church. His address was given at 4 Square de l’Avenue du Bois, Paris. [The 1901 census shows his mother as having been born in France.]
He was up at Christ Church for only one year and, then, worked for Messrs. France Fenwick. The Company came into being on 10 July 1901 through the merger of three companies, William France Fenwick, Stobart & Company and H. C. Pelly. On its formation, the company was confined to the coal trade from the North East coast to London and it became one of the biggest colliery owners in Britain. Their ships' names all ended in Wood. No doubt, they supplied the coal which Moy Thomas & Company sold.
On 29 April 1936, he married at St George’s Church, Bloomsbury, Wilma Mary Marsden. Her father, Wilfred Marsden, was Keeper of Printed Books at the British Museum. They had two daughters, born in 1939 and 1944.
In August 1939, he volunteered for service in an anti-aircraft battery of the Honourable Artillery Company. Later, he went to OCTU Sandhurst and was commissioned Second Lieutenant to The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 7 September 1940.
He took part in the airborne invasion of Sicily, then Taranto & Foggia.
He was a Staff Captain with the 1st Airlanding Brigade at Arnhem and was killed in action on 20 September 1944.
He is buried in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery Plot 16. B. 15.
His wife remarried in 1955.