Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father Arthur James Edmonds  (b.10/7/1859 Flaxely, SA - d. 29/6/1899 Port Pirie, SA) and
Mother Esther Florence Edmonds (nee Maidment) (b. 22/1/1871 Meadows, SA - d. 23/9/1945 Meadows, SA)

Esther Florence Edmonds, later remarried to
#3602 Private Harold Phillip Masters (3rd Light Horse Reg)
  -  b. 3/10/1888 - d. 24/11/1955 Meadows, SA
  -  buried in Echunga Cemetery, SA, Row C, Plot no. 17.

Edith was known as Mrs H Masters, Brighton Road, Brighton, SA.

Siblings:
Sister          Alice Hazel Jane Edmonds (m. Western)
                  (b. 8/12/1896 Echunga SA - d. 1/8/1976 Bordertown, SA)
Brother        Charles Herbert Reginald Masters
Brother        Arthur Claude Masters
Sister           Mabel Masters (m. Medo)
Brother        Herbert James Masters

Described on enlisting as 20 years 1 month old; single; 5' 10" tall; 160 lbs;
fresh complexion; blue eyes; fair hair; Methodist.

7/9/1914      completed medical - fit for service

9/9/1914      enlisted at Morphettville, South Australia

16/10/1914   Commanding Officer appointed George to C Company, 10th Infantry,
                    at Morhphettville Camp

The 10th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. The battalion was recruited in South Australia, and together with the 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions, formed the 3rd Brigade.

20/10/1914   embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius
                    as a Private in the 10th Infantry Battalion

2/3/1915       embarked on board Ionian, to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces
                    in Gallipoli

The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 and so was the first ashore at around 4:30 am.

30/4/1915     Gun shot wound left shoulder - slight - Dardanelles, Gallipoli Peninsula
30/4/1915     embarked on board HMAT A50 Itonus for Egypt
                    admitted to No.17 General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
9/6/1915       admitted rheumatism, Australia & NZ Convalescent Hospital, Zeitoun, Cairo
13/6/1915     discharged to Base Details, Zeitoun
13/7/1915     rejoined unit in Gallipoli

29/12/1915    embarked on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee, ex Alexandria

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 10th Battalion returned to Egypt.

3/1/1916       promoted to Driver in 10th Infantry Battalion

In March 1916 the battalion sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare.

26/3/1916      embarked on board Maryland to join British Expeditionary Forces, Alexandria
2/4/1916       disembarked into Marseilles, France

July-Sept '16  involved in the battle at Pozieres.

21/2/1917      sick to hospital, France
11/8/1917      rejoined battalion from hospital, France

21/12/1917    sick to hospital
28/12/1917    rejoined battalion from hospital, France

17/1/1918      on leave to UK, from France
3/2/1918        rejoined battalion from leave

The 10th Battalion helped stop the German spring offensive and was then involved in the operations leading up to the Allied counter-stroke.

5/2/1918        sick to hospital - admitted 1st Australian Field Ambulance
21/3/1918      admitted to 39th General Hospital, Havre, France

24/4/1918      Gun shot wound  - in action

26/4/1918      admitted to LofC Hospital, from field ambulance unit, France

29/4/1918      Gun shot wound to Right Leg (severe) - invalided to UK
                      admitted York House Hospital, Folkestone, England
1/7/1918         transferred to 3rd Auxillary Hospital
3-17/7/1918    on leave in UK
17/7/1918       report to No.3 Command Depot
10/10/1918     marched out to St Budeaux barracks, Sutton Veny

3/12/1918       returned to Australia on board HMAT A34 Persic (on special 1914 leave)
27/1/1919       disembarked at Port Hacking

15/4/1919       discharged from service in AIF

Total service:  4 years 213 days (4 years 100 days overseas)

Medals:
1914/15 Star (1896); British War medal (809); Victory medal (810)

Married:         Kathleen Mary Edmonds (nee Hough-Clifford)
                     (b. 22/12/1899 Adelaide, SA - d. 5/8/1995 Handorf, SA)

Became a Dairyfarmer at Meadows, South Australia.

1940              S394
                     enlisted in WWII at Keswick, as a Sergeant

14/11/1945     discharged from service in AIF WWII
                     as a Sergeant in 123 Australian Special Hospital

24/2/1951       George Edmonds died of a heart attack at Flaxley in South Australia
buried in:        Echunga Cemetery
                      Row D, Plot no. 8

Thank you to Greg Edmonds for his photo's.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  12/5/2015.  Lest we forget.