Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edgar Symonds was the son of William Gumma Symonds and Mary Symonds. His parents had been deceased for almost twenty years when he enlisted. His home town was Kidston, which is today a ghost town. He gave his next of kin as his sister, Lillian Hannah Till, of Babinda, near Cairns, Queensland.

His older brother, 3410 Lance Corporal Arthur Symonds, also of the 31st Battalion AIF, was killed in action only a fortnight later, near Ypres, on 11 October 1917, aged 30.

They had enlisted about the same time and were both put in the 31st Battalion, leaving on the same ship during May 1916.

Edgar was mortally wounded during the Battle of Polygon Wood, 26 September 1917 and died of wounds the same day.

A letter from a chaplain was printed in the Cairns newspapers, “Mrs. L. Till, Clyde, Babinda, has received the following letter from Chaplain Malcomson concerning the death of her brother, Private E. Symonds: - Dear Mrs. Till: “It is with profound regret that I inform you that your brother, 3333 Pte. E. Symonds, 31st Battalion, died of wounds received on the 26/9/17, at Polygon Wood, Belgium. Our fullest sympathy goes out to you dear, brave women at home, who are called upon to bear the heaviest burden of this awful war. Although your loss is irreparable, and your grief heavy, you have reason to be proud, for your brother displayed great gallantry and died a true hero. He never hesitated to make the supreme sacrifice, and exemplify the greater love. We can never speak, nor think too highly of our brave lads. They are simply magnificent in action, calm in danger, cheerful in privation; whilst, as comrades, true as steel. Their memory will ever be sacred to me…”