Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

PRIVATE E. L. RABBITTS.
Private Edward Leslie Rabbitts, a former Sydney Grammar School boy, has died of wounds at Malta. He was 25 years of age, and was a native of Sydney. After leaving the Sydney Grammar School he studied at the Hawkesbury College. He was keenly interested in sport, and won a large number of prizes. Before enlisting he was farming in the Dorrigo. Deceased was a son of Mr. Rabbitts, superintendent of the stores department of the Union S.S. Company, Ltd,

Gunner Edward Leslie RABBITTS. 3rd Battery, 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF. Died of disease on 25th July 1915, age 25 at Malta.  Born 1889, Fitzroy, Victoria to Edward and Agnes Rabbitts. Enrolled at Sydney Grammar School 1900 to 1905. Edward had one sister and two brothers: Stanley (1897 & 1908–11) enlisted as a Gunner in the 5th Australian Field Artillery and survived the War. At School Edward participated in Gymnasium and Swimming. Gymnasium was a popular sport for students in that era – regularly there would be 70 to 90 competing and it wasn’t compulsory!!. The Swimming Races were held at the Bondi Baths in March each year. The description of the trip to Bondi Baths is amusing: First of all we were supplied with special Trams and in these we rattled along –oblivious of the row we (some of us) were making, oblivious of upturned milk carts, and only happy in the enjoyment of the moment – in the fact we were getting on our way to Bondi… Edward went well in 1903 & ’04 – Winning the ‘neatest header’ in both years and the 50yard handicap. Edward enlisted in August 1914 as a Veterinary Surgeon. He embarked as a Gunner with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade in October 1914. War Diary for the 25th April 1915, 1st Field Artillery Brigade: 25th April 1915 - Hostile batteries shield the transports during the afternoon, and they had to stand out from the shore to safer anchorage. Artillery fire and musketry on shore were intense and combined with the Naval bombardment made the noise deafening.’ 26th April 1915 - … at 0300 one gun & two wagons of the 1st Battery were taken ashore and moved up into action at the top of SHELL GREEN.….. at 1230 one section of 3rd Battery was disembarked and towed to the shores, but under instruction were returned to the ship and reloaded … 1st Battery remained in action the whole day and fired upward of 500 rounds at ranges of about 400x. The gun was withdrawn at night and re-embarked on the Atlantian. By July 1915, the 1st Artillery Brigade was ashore at Cape Helles. On 19th July 1915 Edward was evacuated and sent to Malta with ‘Enteric & Pyrexia’. He died on the 25th July from ‘enteric fever’, being either typhoid or paratyphoid fever. In August 1915 a letter was sent to Base Records by a friend: …. I am writing to you on behalf of the relatives of Gunner E. L. Rabbitts, concerning whom a telegram was received from the Defence Department informing them of his death at Malta on the 25th July last. In view of the various contradictory reports which have appeared in the papers as to him having been ill, progressing favourably, dangerously ill and killed, if you could possibly spare time to enquire for the relatives as to what actually are the facts of the case I am sure you would be rendering a kind service… ‘ A reply was received, one month later, which stated: Edward died from enteric fever.

[extracted from CWGC publicity Material]