Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward may have arrived in Australia through Fremantle about 1929. By 1940 Edward, a single man, was in Western Australia working as a labourer in the remote town of Big Bell. The town was newly established in 1936 with the opening of the Big Bell Gold Mine.

Edward enlisted in the Second AIF on 16 August 1940 at Claremont, WA. In April 1941 he embarked for the Middle East with reinforcements for 2/16 Battalion, but on arrival was posted to HQ Guard Battalion in Palestine where he remained for a year. In June 1942 he was posted briefly to 2/28 Battalion before finally, in July, being posted to 2/3 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) as a Medical Orderly. This unit was the closest Australian CCS for casualties from the battle of El Alamein in October 1942. In December the unit moved back to Palestine and returned to Australia in January/February 1943. In August 1943 the unit left Cairns for the landings at Lae and Finschafen, New Guinea in September 1943. The CCS functioned in harsh tropical conditions and was subjected to air raids. The unit returned to Townsville in May 1944 and in May 1945 embarked at Townsville for Morotai, to take part in the landings at Balikpapan, Borneo in July. Edward finally returned to Australia through Fremantle in November 1945 and was discharged in Western Australia on 28 November 1945.

In more than 5 years in the AIF Edward had seen almost 2 years active service in the Middle East and 18 months in two separate campaigns in the South West Pacific area, all as a Private. Edward’s medals were sent to him in 1956 at the town of Cue, near Big Bell. The mine lasted only 20 years before closing its doors in 1955. Big Bell, seven hours drive north of Perth, Western Australia, is now a ghost town.

Edward may have arrived in Australia through Fremantle about 1929. By 1940 Edward, a single man, was in Western Australia working as a labourer in the remote town of Big Bell. The town was newly established in 1936 with the opening of the Big Bell Gold Mine.

Edward enlisted in the Second AIF on 16 August 1940 at Claremont, WA. In April 1941 he embarked for the Middle East with reinforcements for 2/16 Battalion, but on arrival was posted to HQ Guard Battalion in Palestine where he remained for a year. In June 1942 he was posted briefly to 2/28 Battalion before finally, in July, being posted to 2/3 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) as a Medical Orderly. This unit was the closest Australian CCS for casualties from the battle of El Alamein in October 1942. In December the unit moved back to Palestine and returned to Australia in January/February 1943. In August 1943 the unit left Cairns for the landings at Lae and Finschafen, New Guinea in September 1943. The CCS functioned in harsh tropical conditions and was subjected to air raids. The unit returned to Townsville in May 1944 and in May 1945 embarked at Townsville for Morotai, to take part in the landings at Balikpapan, Borneo in July. Edward finally returned to Australia through Fremantle in November 1945 and was discharged in Western Australia on 28 November 1945.

In more than 5 years in the AIF Edward had seen almost 2 years active service in the Middle East and 18 months in two separate campaigns in the South West Pacific area, all as a Private. Edward’s medals were sent to him in 1956 at the town of Cue, near Big Bell. The mine lasted only 20 years before closing its doors in 1955. Big Bell, seven hours drive north of Perth, Western Australia, is now a ghost town.