EDMONDS, Rigby Fluister
| Service Number: | 1355 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moreland, Victoria, April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Preston, Darebin, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Bundoora (later re-named Larunde) Mental Asylum , 6 September 1948, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Preston Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1355, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1355, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Melbourne | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1355, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jun 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1355, 14th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to right lower leg | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 46th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1355, 46th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, GSW to right foot - ?self inflicted | |
| 24 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1355, 46th Infantry Battalion, 3rd MD |
Help us honour Rigby Fluister Edmonds's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From How We Served
The final resting place for; - 1355 Private Rigby Fluister Edmonds of Preston, Victoria had been employed as a driver when he enlisted for War Service on the 15th of October 1914 and was allocated to the 14th Battalion 1st AIF.
Rigby was embarked for Egypt and further training on the 21st of December and was with his Unit when it was committed to the Dardanelles campaign, arriving at Gallipoli on the 26th of April 1915. Rigby remained in the trenches until he was wounded in action by a gunshot wound to his right leg on the 26th of June and was evacuated to Egypt for hospitalisation.
Following his treatment for this wound and a period of convalescence Rigby was returned to his Unit on the 4th of February 1916, which by now had been evacuated from Gallipoli. Rigby was transferred over to the 46th Battalion the following month on the 3rd of March and with his new Battalion he was embarked for France, arriving on the 8th of June. On the 11th of August Rigby was again evacuated for medical treatment due to a gunshot wound to his right foot, and was again returned to his Unit in the field by the 14th of October.
On the 18th of November Rigby was again evacuated from the trenches having been diagnosed as suffering trench feet and by the 28th of November he had arrived in England for further hospitalisation. Rigby would be returned to his Unit on the 29th of May 1917, and remained on duty until he was availed leave on the 24th of February 1918 until the 13th of March, and would see further field service until he was embarked for his repatriation back to Australia on the 24th of September at Taranto.
Following Rigby’s return to Australia via Egypt on the 23rd of November 1918 he received his formal discharge from the 1st AIF on the 24th of January 1919 for his re-entry into civilian life. Rigby’s health was forever affected and on the 20th of September 1920 he was admitted into the Military Mental Asylum (Mont Park), cited as suffering delusional insanity due to his War Service and remained in the asylum until he was deemed as having been ‘cured’ and was released on the 15th of January 1921.
Returning to his pre War occupation as a driver, Rigby relocated to Warragul, Victoria but by the 12th of August 1942 he was again committed to what was now officially called the Bundoora (later re-named Larundel from 1953 onwards) Mental Asylum again suffering from what was documented as delusional insanity. Rigby remained recieving treatment from within this institution until his death on the 6th of September 1948.
Following his passing Private Rigby Edmonds was formally interred within Preston Cemetery, Victoria.
Click images to start slideshow.