Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard William Cyril EDDY

Military Medal Recommendation 

'For conspicuous gallantry at HAMEL WOOD, south east of CORBIE on 4th July, 1918. This N.C.O. was in charge of a Section carrying barbed wire and was himself loaded with a coil of wire. Immediately on leaving the jumping off tape he was severely wounded, one arm being rendered useless. Despite his wound he led his Section to the dump arriving with a complete load, and carrying on to his objective disposed his men on their line. At this stage he collapsed from strain and loss of blood. He set an inspiring example and concealed the severity of his wound until his task was completed.'

Recommendation date: 8 July 1918

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23

Date: 12 February 1919

Richard Eddy was one of the first Eaglehawk lads to sign up to fight for King and Country. He enlisted in September 1914 in Bendigo just weeks after war had been declared. He would require his father’s consent, as he was just 18 years of age.

He sailed with the first flotilla of AIF soldiers, landing in Egypt to prepare for the April 25 landing at Gallipoli.

The Bendigo Independent reported in June 1915: -                      ‘Mr. R. Eddy, manager of the Koch's Pioneer mine, received a card early in the week from his son, Richard William Cyril, who is at the Dardanelles, stating that he was well. Subsequently he received an urgent wire from the Secretary for Defence, stating that his son was dangerously ill. Private Eddy is 19 years of age. He was born in Bendigo. After leaving the Long Gully School he worked in Lansell's Foundry at Eaglehawk. From there he went to the Johnson's Reef mine, went to the Johnson's Reef mine, and subsequently worked at the Collmann and Tacchi and Koch’s Pioneer under his father’.[1]

Better news was received a month later in August 1915, the Bendigo Advertiser updated news on Richard Eddy: -

‘Mr. Richard Eddy, of Long Gully, yesterday received a letter from his son, who was early last week reported to be dangerously ill. Private Eddy stated that he was in hospital suffering from enteric fever. He landed at Gallipoli on the 26th April, which was his birthday, and he participated in the early lighting before being laid aside by fever. At the time of writing he had almost recovered from the fever’.[2]

The same paper reported in November: - 'Mr. R. Eddy, manager of Koch's Pioneer mine, has received a letter from his son. Private Eddy, who was invalided to London after serving at the front in Gallipoli. Private Eddy was suffering from enteric fever, and at the time of writing 20th September, was an inmate of the hospital at Fulham. He is making good progress towards recovery, and states that they receive splendid treatment the hospital.'[3]

Richard Eddy’s time in England and Europe would be action packed. He would marry an English girl Daisy Early from Dorchester, Dorset in August 1916. He would discipline issues in England and return the front in France in 1917. In February 1918 he would wounded suffering a gas attack, and again be  wounded the day he is acknowledged for his brave deeds at the battle of Le Hamel on the Somme on July 4th 1918.

The Bendigo papers print little information on Richard Eddy for until after the war is over December 1918: - 

BENDIGO SOLDIERS- PRIVATE R. W. EDDY. M.M.                         ‘Mr. R. Eddy. manager of Lansell's Needle mine, has received word that his son, Private R. W Eddy has been awarded the Military Medal and has received a congratulatory letter from the general commanding the 4th Army Corps specifically mentioning his bravery.

SERVICE DETAILS FROM ATTESTATION PAPER & OTHER SOURCES

Regimental number: 442

Place of birth: Sandhurst, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

School: Long Gully

Occupation: Miner

Address: Weatherall Street, California Gully, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Age at embarkation: 18

Next of kin: Father Richard Eddy, Weatherall Street,

Enlistment date: 11 September 1914

Unit name: 14th Battalion, D Company

Embarked: HMAT A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914

Final Rank: Lance Corporal

Fate: Returned to Australia 21 December 1918

Date of death: 24 April 1962

Place of burial: Woronora Cemetery, Sydney

Battle of HAMEL WOOD, south east of CORBIE on 4th July, 1918.

One of the most significant battles that is sometimes cited as the turning point in the war took place south of the Somme River on July 4, 1918, at Le Hamel, with the objective to dislodge the Germans from a position of high ground. The attack commenced without the usual artillery bombardment. The battle lasted about 93 minutes; Monash had planned on 90 minutes. The Australians and Americans lost about 900 men while the Germans lost about 1,800.

[1] The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Fri 25 Jun 1915  Page 5  PRIVATE RICHARD EDDY.
[2] Bendigo Advertiser Thu 12 Aug 1915  Page 7  PRIVATE R. W. C. EDDY.
[3] Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918)  Tue 2 Nov 1915  Page 7  PRIVATE R. W. C. EDDY.