Lieutenant Edward Edwards

LIEUTENANT EDWARD EDWARDS

Engineers / Mining Corps Details

Edward “Ed” Edwards was born on September 24, 1883 the son of Edward and Mary (nee Murray) Edwards in Lambton, New South Wales. Military experience was gained from the School Cadets and studied for a Bachelor degree in Mining Engineering in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1909 the family were living at Malakoff Street, Malvern, Melbourne.

Enrolment of the thirty-two-year-old mine manager for enlistment of active service abroad took place in January, 1916 and passed the medical examination. On January 17, 1916 he applied for a Commission with the Aust Imperial Forces and his description at that time shows he was 175cms (5ft 9ins) tall, weighed 61kgs (132lbs) with a chest measurement of 82cms (32ins) and his eyes passed the eye test with good vision. Next-of-kin nominated of the single applicant was his mother Mrs M. Edwards of ‘Corona’ Malakoff Street, Malvern, Vic.

His application was accepted and promoted to the rank of Provisional Second Lieutenant on February 25, 1916. Announcement of this appointment with the Engineers at the Officers’ School of Instruction camp in Sydney was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No.31 in 1916.

On May 30, 1916 he was appointed to the A.I.F. for Open Service.

He appeared in Sydney before the Medical Board and his case finalised on June 30, 1916. On July 4, 1916 the officer was to leave for the 3rd Military District in Melbourne that evening and report to the Staff Officer for Invalids. A claim for the Commissioner of Pensions was forwarded for transmission by their office.

All relevant Forms were forwarded to Base Records on July 11, 1916 but returned on August 23 as he had not been allotted and his enrolment form was to remain in the custody of the camp where he was stationed. It was noted that the officer had never been attested but enrolled and forms sent to Sydney with transfer papers.

His appointment was terminated on August 28, 1916 in Australia.

On September 1, 1916 the Staff Officer for Invalids sent a telegram to Victoria Barracks in regards to the termination of his appointment which had not been published by him.

Following a memo that there were no records of the officer being a returned soldier by the Staff Officer for Returned Soldiers on September 7, 1916, the next day an officer at the 3rd Military District replied that it was understood that he was at present at Malakoff Street, Malvern.

His claim for a Military Pension to his residence above was rejected due to his incapacity was not caused by warlike operations.

Published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 137 dated October 5, 1916 termination of his appointment was circulated.

An official Form of Commission was forwarded to him and he signed the consignment receipt on August 28, 1918.

On July 11, 1919 Base Records requested a copy of the C.M. Form for the 2nd Lieutenant from the Officer-in Charge of the 3rd Military District which was forwarded to them on July 17.

Nominal Rolls compiled in October, 1919 state his last company was with Tunnelling Details.

In 1920 he was residing at ‘Glenesk’ Callantina Road, Glenferrie, Vic with the occupation of engineer. In 1949 he was at 956 Bourke Road, Deepdene, Vic with the same occupation.

Requests for his Statement of Service from Base Records by the Repatriation Commission in Melbourne were sent on February 27 and May 30, 1956.

In 1963 his address was listed as Flat 2, 9A Fordhow Road, Hawthorn, Vic. and retired.

Edward ‘Ed’ Edwards died in 1970 aged 86 with his death registered at Hawthorn, Vic.