Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arrived in Australia aged 24 years

Son of Richard and Annie Edge of 7 Hollands Road, Northwich, England

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

From a young age he excelled in swimming and football.

At the age of 12 he was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for leaping over the Dane Bridge to rescue his friend Sam Clare who was 3 years his senior. Those who knew James described as a modest and unassuming person

Previously served with the Imperial Volunteers

James EDGE  (Service Number 1422) was born on 8th June 1888, in Cheshire, England.  He worked for the NSW Railways as a bricklayer in the Permanent Way Branch for a month in 1912. He resigned and was re-employed nearly a year later as a porter in the Sydney District. In October 1914 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces.  He died of enteric fever on 3rd August 1915 at Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos and is buried in the Mudros East Cemetery.

‘FOOTBALLER AND SWIMMER’S SAD END

DEATH FROM ENTERIC FEVER IN THE DARDANELLES

BOY WHO WON HUMANE SOCIETY MEDAL

‘Chronicle’ readers, and football lovers in particular, will join with us in expressing heartfelt regret to, and sympathy with Mr and Mrs. Richard Edge, of Apple Market-St, Northwich, late of London Rd in the sad bereavement befallen them by the death of their eldest son, Private James Edge, who volunteered for service with the Australian contingent. The news was received on Tuesday in an official letter from the War Office stating that it was with the deepest regret that the High Commissioner requested him to convey to them the very sad intelligence received by cablegram that Private James Edge, of the 13th Batt. Australian Imperial Forces, died on the 3rd August, of enteric fever. No other particulars had been received in the cablegram respecting the demise of their son, but it was suggested that more information might be obtained on making application to the Officer Commanding, Intermediate Base, Imperial Forces, Cairo who would also be in a position to state what instructions there were in reference to the disposal of any effects. Enclosed with the letter was a letter of condolence from the King and Queen, signed by Lord Kitchener.

‘Jimmy’ Edge as he was familiarly called, joined the AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE in November last, and was sent to the Dardanelles in March, after a period of training in Egypt. He was well-known in sporting circles, for right from his boyhood days he was keen both in swimming and football. Aged 27, he was educated at the Winnington and Navigation-Rd Schools, and, as a scholar at the latter, he was a member of the teams which for two years in succession carried off the Mid-Cheshire School Boys’ Swimming Shield.

A brave, plucky fellow was Edge and it is on record that at the age of twelve he leaped over the Dane Bridge into the river without diverting himself of clothes or boots, and gallantly reached a comrade, Sam Clare, of London-road, who was three years his senior, and who, it is interesting to record, is at present serving with His Majesty’s Forces in France. It was characteristic of Edge, who was always of a shy and retiring disposition, that he made no mention at home of this plucky deed, and that he had to be sought out by the authorities before it could be ascertained that it was he who was responsible for so fine an act of life-saving.  The result was that he received the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society, together with the parchment certificate, signed by the King.

Later, edge began to play football, and for three or four years was connected with the Church Lads’ Football Club at Witton. He was a member of the Witton Bible class and also Miss Kay’s Bible class at Devenham. He was not on the big side but as a footballer he was a dashing centre forward and evidenced much skill and knowledge of the game.  He was soon sought out, and after a time consented to play for Northwich Victoria and, latterly for Lostock Graham, although he eventually returned to the Church Lads’ team. Modest and unassuming, Jimmy was always liked by his fellow players and comrades for he was a SPORTSMAN TO HIS FINGERTIPS.  Never an ill word was spoken regarding him, and he never made an enemy.

His occupation was that of a bricklayer, and some three and a half years ago he emigrated to Australia, and obtained a position under the Government, on one of the railways. He was doing well and was making quite a success of his life when the call of his country came, too insistent to be ignored.

Writing to tell his mother that he had enlisted, he said that one ship had just gone out and that he was going to be next. The band was there, and the people were cheering. ‘Good-bye! mother,’ he continued, ‘whatever danger I am in, my last thoughts will be of you. Don’t upset yourself, for I shall be no disgrace to you, and I am only doing my duty.’

The same manly tone was shown in all his letters. He wrote home with great regularity, and sometimes two letters a week were received. In one of his latest, he wrote – ‘We have been here over three weeks now, and it has been nice weather all the time. We have had no rain worth talking about, but when it does rain I expect things will be in an awful state, and I dread the wet weather and cold worse than anything else; but we shall HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT when it comes, as we cannot expect to have nice weather all the time. It will be a good job when this awful war is over, but we shall have to keep on going for a little while longer. Of course, it may last some time yet, and I would be not surprised if it lasted another 12 months. It is difficult to guess, and you never know what things you have to contend with.’

Writing to Mr. E. H. Shaw, who was closely connected with the Witton Boys’ F.C., Private Edge, in his last letter, said that the papers had given a good account of the fighting in the Dardanelles, but he was not permitted to say anything. ‘I wish it was over,’ he observes, ‘for it must be making a lot of miserable homes. Northwich will be very quiet now, I suppose, as all the boys seemed to have joined the army and I am glad to see they are all JOINING IN THE GAME.  For it will shorten the war. The more we have, the quickly will this awful war end .  .  .  . You seem to be busy at the works, and it is a good thing, for it will help those who are left behind to struggle on. I expect things are very dear now, but it is only what we can expect at a time like this .   .   .   . Remember me to any of the boys who are left.’

Naturally Edge’s parents are greatly upset at the sad news which has reached them. On the 26th July, their son sent a card to state that he was in hospital but hoped to be about shortly. No danger was apprehended, and it was a great blow to them when they heard on the 3rd August.

Private Edge was a GRANDSON OF OLD BOB FOSTER the famous Mid-Cheshire bowler, who died on Whit-Monday, and was known as ‘Owd Bob.’ His father has been employed by Messrs. Brunner, Mond and Co.’s works as a boiler cleaner for thirty years, and his grandfather on his father’s side is Mr. Edge, a retired publican, who ranked as one of the oldest licensed victuallers in the district. As a boy and a young man, deceased was connected with the Witton Church Bible class, and many of his old confreres of those days are at the present time serving both in France and in the Dardanelles. Edge’s only brother is serving in France, as is his uncle, Sanly Forster, the bowler, and other relatives.

- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board