EDWARDS, William Eugene
| Service Number: | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade |
| Born: | Bulahdelah, New South Wales, Australia, 20 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, 1972, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Bulahdelah St. John's Anglican Church Great War Honour Roll |
Biography contributed by Merridee Wouters
Eugene was the eldest son of Henry Edwards second marriage to Janet Kenny. Hailing from Bulahdelah, Eugene enlisted at Newcastle on 19 Aug 1916, listing his occupation as farmer. He was assigned to the 14th reinforcements of the 6th Australian light Horse. He was originally scheduled to leave Sydney in Dec 1915 on the A60 Aeneas but instead embarked on A62 Wandilla early in February. On the 27th March 1916, he was taken into 25th Howitzer Brigade and posted to the 115th battery in Egypt. The 25th Howitzer Brigade was attached to the 5th Division Artillery. On the 21st April he was transferred to the brigade ammunition column (BAC), which involves driving ammunition to the front, likely with horse drawn carts. On the 5th Jun 1916, he was transferred to 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. On the 26th Jun he embarked on the Hunstend at Alexandria for France, landing in Marseille 10 days later. On the 26th Jul he was appointed as the acting bombardier for the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. On the 28th Feb 2018, he requested to return to driving the ammunition column. Eugene returned Australia early on the Nestor on 1st Feb 1919. He was awarded British War Medal 33912 and Victory medal 33481. He died in 1972 in Newtown.