Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward's first time being wounded was when he shot in the heart. He was given the option of open heart surgery but was told he had a 99 % chance of dying on the table as he would have been the second person that they had tried the operation on. Of course he declined and the bullet stayed in his heart until it finally moved many years after the war finished.

Edward returned to his battalion and he was wounded again by a mortar. The body wagon came along and literally threw him on top of the deceased diggers they were retrieving. when the soldier in the cart heard him groan. They then pushed him off the cart onto the ground and amputated both his arms just below the shoulder where he lay on the dirt road. This action did save his life even though later in life he always believed his arms could have been saved.. His 2nd wife was told by a mate of Edwards that no, they were in his words "Shredded".

Edward is the only Australian to survive WW1 with double upper limb amputation. Upon returning to Australia he was one of the returned soldiers to help start the RSL and he also helped start and be a board member of the Limbless Association. When Edward returned from repatriation in England he alighted from the train flanked by 2 soldiers that were designated to help him get home. That include all of them doing Edwards daily activities, getting dressed. Eating, cleaning his teeth etc. Edward’s mother was standing in the station platform and spotted him. When she saw both sleeve arms were pinned up she screamed and fainted. His family knew he was badly wounded but thought he had only lost one arm. He told his wife, my grandmother, that he never understood why she got such a shock.

Upon returning to Australia Edward was fitted with prosthetic arms. He learnt to write again and had a large vegetable patch and a small orchard at home. He used to tend to his veggies and trees doing normal but slightly modified gardening and he would talk to his plants. My grandmother said 2 days after he passed, she and the kids went out the backyard and every tree had dropped their leaves, covering the ground in a leaf blanket as she described it. Word spread and the local newspaper did a story as it wasn't the season for the trees to drop their leaves. Shortly after a tree specialist came to her house as he'd heard about the mystery surrounding the trees. All he could conclude was that the trees were grieving for Ted. I have seen the newspaper article, but I am saddened I have been unable to find another copy of it.

Edward worked for most of his working life after the war at Myers in Melbourne city. Mr Myer also paid another employee extra to help during working hours.

My grandmother Zena was Edward’s second wife and there was approximately 20 years age difference, not that that ever made a difference. Edward and Zena met at the Limbless Association. Zena had lost her lower left arm in a workplace prank that went wrong. Not only did Zena lose her arm, the lady who pretended her arm was caught never recovered from her guilt. Zena always believed it was fate that she lost her arm as she would never have met Edward. So they had one hand between them.

As Edward and Zena’s children were either grown up or older teenagers and they knew it was only a matter of time before the bullet in his heart moved, so they went around Australia towing a caravan. It made the news and a reporter chased them for months trying to get a photo and interview them as the couple with one hand between them both on a major holiday. They dodged the reporter for quite a while with Edward’s returned digger mates hiding them everywhere and giving the reporter false leads. Finally they'd had enough and gave him his interview so he would leave them alone.

Edward would wear leather gloves over his hands at times so people were none the wiser of him having fake arms. At one stage of their trip they were catching up and having drinks with one of Edward’s mates from his unit somewhere in the outback and the other man had lost both his hands in a mining accident.. My grandfather would use both his hands to place the beer mug in front of his friend so he could use his stumps to lift the glass and have a drink. His friend left the table to go to the toilet and another man at the table next to theirs turned to Edward and said. Come on mate you could at least help the digger have his drink easier and actually put it to his lips. Edward just turned his head and smiled and said. Yes you are right, I am very sorry. The other man had no idea he had just told off a man that had no arms at all.

One Anzac day some of Edward’s war mates came to his house to go to the Anzac March. One was blind (I cannot remember the gentleman’s name - I will call him John. Another man was missing his legs, so he was hoisted onto Edward’s shoulders and he was the hands and Edward was the legs. The other men were missing either an arm or leg. Zena drove them all to the march then took them to the local RSL. She left the car at the RSL as it wasn't far from their house and she went home and waited for them to call for her to come and collect them. Hours later they all stumbled into the house laughing and still reminiscing. She stood there confused and said "How what how did you come home. The car’s still at the RSL.” They all burst out laughing and pointed to John and said “He drove we just told him when to brake or turn right or left”. John stood there with the biggest happiest grin and said it was the most fun and normal time he'd had since he lost his eyesight in battle. Well she said she couldn’t tell them off they were all so happy and drunk together and none felt like less of a man that day.

When Edward died he knew or must have felt it happening and he never said a word that the bullet was moving and he took his wife Zena out dancing all night until sunrise the next morning. He said goodbye to his children and hugged them both and told them he loved them always and waved them goodbye. Zena thought it was a bit odd but she said she didn't twig to what he was doing. After they left he kissed Zena again and told her for the umpteenth time that night/day that he loved her. He said he was tired and was going to lie down. Zena found him later on his son’s bed. He had passed away in his sleep.

Edward is my grandfather and I am extremely proud of his achievements during his time in WW1 and everything he accomplished after he returned from France. It is because of him I joined the Australian Army Reserves and served 6 years in both part time and full time service. My grandfather died long before I was born but my grandmother made sure his memory was kept alive and I loved hearing the stories. Please excuse spelling mistakes I am typing this on my mobile phone.

Proud grand-daughter

Sarah Lowe