Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Discharged from Service on 03 Apr 1920

"INSOLVENT SOLDIER.  Handicapped by War Wounds.  SERIES OF MISFORTUNES

Cleveland George Edwards, formerly a carpenter, but now a carrier, of Young street, Parkside, came up for the final hearing of his insolvancy in the Insolvency Court today. The accountant reported:- Liabilities admitted. £1,653 7/2; liabilities disputed, £64-4 4/1: assets £1,510;- deficiency in estate. £787 11/3. Edwards stated that on July 1, 1921, he had no liabilities. At this time he was living in Payneham awaiting the allotment of land by the Repatriation Department. Meanwhile he was taking odd jobs. In April, 1922, with the permission of the department, he went on to a block at Scott Creek, which at the time was held by a returned soldier. The transfer of the holding to himself was made in April, 1923. He remained on the property until he was obliged to leave it. Owing to delays of the department in the settlement of his application, he left the property and took a residence in Parkside. He had arranged to purchase the house. Subsequently he was advised by the department that a settlement had been made in respect of the land at Scott Creek, and so he returned to the property. His family remained at Parkside. While working on the property he injured himself. He then worked at his trade as a carpenter until October, 1923, but was compelled to seek lighter work owing to injuiries received at the war. He became a traveller for a firm of timber merchants, and afterwards purchased two secondhand motor lorries with a view to establishing a carrying business. However, he was pressed by his creditors, and was arrested under an unsatisfied judgment warrant and lodged in gaol. Edwards attributed his insolvency to want of capital, delay in the settlement of his application for land through the Soldier Settlement Department, failure in his undertakings with respect to the Parkside property, war wounds, and inability to follow his trade as a carpenter. The case was adjourned until February 13." - from the Adelaide News 09 Jan 1925 (nla.gov.au)

"STOREKEEPER'S DIVORCE. Given Custody of Four Children

KALGOORLIE, Thursday. Cleveland George Edwards successfully petitioned today before Mr. E. E. McGinn, R. M., Commissioner for the Supreme Court, for a dissolution of his marriage with Marion Edwards, on the grounds of her misconduct with Alex Chapman. Petitioner, who was represented by Mr. E. M. Hefenan, said that he was married to respondent at Leeds, England, on December 12, 1919, and came with her to South Australia where they lived together in various places before going to Salmon Gums in this State to take up farming. After five years he had to abandon the farm, and came to Norseman where he set up in a storekeeping business. This necessitated frequent absences from home. He had reason to be suspicious of his wife's familiarity with Alex. Chapman.

'LOVED CHAPMAN'

Returning home on May 14 he found on the living room table a note from his wife, stating that it was impossible for them to live happily together, and that she had gone to live with Chapman, with whom she was in love. His wife and Chapman, who was employed on the Norseman Mine, were living together at Norseman. Chapman had told petitioner that he and Mrs. Edwards would marry if they were in a position to do so. There were four children of the marriage. Three were in the Coolgardie Convent, and the youngest was with Mrs. Edwards. Corroborative evidence that Chapman and Mrs. Edwards were living together was given. Mr. McGinn granted the decree, with costs, against Chapman, and the custody of the children to petitioner." - from the Perth Daily News 11 Oct 1934 (nla.gov.au)