Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Australian Remembrance Army

Edward Spencer Tilston
Service No: 2645
Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: 42nd Infantry Battalion

Today, our group of volunteers was joined by two ladies keen to learn the techniques used to restore the lettering to the granite headstones of veterans. We were fortunate to have two headstones located close together that we could do at the same time today, so everyone could get hands-on experience. We also received permission from Brisbane City Council before undertaking these restoration works.

Edward Spencer Tilston was born in Brisbane, Queensland on the 15th November 1888 to parents Edward Tilston and Annie Catherine Spencer. He had one older sibling, a sister named Annie Ruth. His father was a doctor who worked for several years at Thursday Island as the Government Medical Officer. He died at Thursday Island in 1900 after suffering from pneumonia.

Edward worked as a Clerk and lived in the western Queensland town of Roma from around 1912 until his return to Brisbane in 1916, when he enlisted for service with the AIF on the 24th March. Edward spent time at Lytton Camp, Lytton in Brisbane before embarking from Brisbane on the 17th November 1916, per HMAT “Kyarra”.

During the voyage to England, Edward was promoted to the temporary rank of VO Sergeant (voyage only), and was reverted to Private when he disembarked in Plymouth on the 30th January 1917. On arrival in England, Edward marched in to the 11th Training Battalion at Larkhill.

A few months later on the 9th April, Edward was admtted to Fargo Hospital. Ten days later, he was transferred to Parkhouse Military Hospital and was discharged the following month on the 9th May 1917.
Edward proceeded overseas to France on the 2nd July 1917, disembarking in Rouelles. He marched out to his unit on the 16th July, and joined the 42nd Infantry Battalion in the field two days later, and was promoted to Lance Corporal. Edward was wounded in action on the 31st July, receiving a gun shot wound to his right hand. He was invalided to England on the 4th August and was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital the following day. Edward was transferred to the 3rd Auxillary Hospital in Dartford on the 23rd August before being granted leave from 25th August to the 8th September 1917.

On his return from leave, Edward joined the No 2 Command Depot in Weymouth. He returned to Australia the following year on the 22nd May 1918, on board “Field Marshall” and was discharged at the 1st Military District in Queensland on the 23rd June 1918.
On his return, Edward resumed his work as a Clerk, working in Longreach in 1918, before heading north to Townsville, where he lived in boarding house for gentleman named “Te Aurala”. He spent several years in Townsville before returning to live at the family home at 153 Albion Road, Windsor. He shared the home with his mother and sister until his mother’s death in 1936.

On the 30th May 1940, Edward passed away at the Albion Road home, aged 51 years. He was buried at Lutwyche Cemetery the following day, and was interred in his mother’s grave. His sister, Annie lived until 1971, passing away at the age of 84 years. There is a plaque for Annie Jnr on the family grave, however she is not buried with Edward and her mother Annie.