DYER, Edward Joseph
| Service Number: | 6255 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Northam, Western Australia, August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Northam, Northam, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Northam State School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 11 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Northam Fallen, Northam Memorial Hospital, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6255, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1916: |
Embarked
AIF WW1, Private, 6255, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Edward Joseph Dyer was born at Northam, Western Australia in August 1897 to parents Joseph and Charlette Dyer. He was one of six sons and three daughters.
Edward attended Northam the state schools in Northam. On leaving school Edward later worked as a grocer in the Throssell Family Store in Peel Terrace Northam.
With the outbreak of the war in 1914, Edward was sixteen years of age and unable to enlist into the AIF. It was not until April 1916 that Edward enlisted in April 1916. He conducted his training at Blackboy Hill training camp.
It was in October 1916 that Edward embarked for overseas service from Fremantle aboard HMAT Suffolk attached to 16th Battalion, 20th reinforcements.
By December 1916 Edward had arrived in Etaples France where he conducted further training and in March, he was taken on strength of 16th Battalion allocated to B Company.
By this time the German Army had retreated back to their defensive position, known as the Hindenburg Line. An almost impenetrable line of trench system on the Western Front.
In April 1917, 16th Battalion as a part of the Fourth Infantry Brigade where to be involved in an attack towards the Hindenburg Line at the French village of Bullecourt.
It was on the 11th April 1917 that Edward with his battalion attacked the Hindenburg Line over no man’s land reaching the barb wire entanglements. Some of the men reached the German trenches where bitter fighting took place.
The Australians had to relinquish the gained ground after suffering heavy casualties. Edwards exact fate is unknown during this attack.
Private Edward Joseph Dyer, service number 6255 of 16th Battalion was killed in action at Bullecourt on the 11th April 1917. He was 19 years of age.
Edward has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Australian War Memorial, France.
He is remembered with honour.
His family posted this poem verse in the North Advertiser on the 13th April 1918 in Edwards memorial.
We who love you sadly miss you
as it dawns another year
in the lonely hours of thinking
thoughts of you are dear.
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