Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward John Fahey was born in Adelaide in 1892. He grew up in Macclesfield with a foster family because his mother died during confinement and his father when he was a young child.  He lived in Mt Barker before joining the 27th Battalion. When he lived in Mt Barker he worked as a Labourer and was single. Edward’s religion was Roman Catholic. Edward had a typical appearance, 5,4. with brown hair and blue eyes. He scored a 6 out of 6 on both eyes in his eye test at enlistment, so he had perfect eyes.

Edward was originally allocated to the 24th Battalion but was later recruited to the 27th Battalion. He was ranked as a private meaning that he was an ordinary soldier. They embarked out of Australia on board HMAT Geelong on 31/5/1915 for Alexandria in Egypt where they went through training and tactics ready for Gallipoli. Fahey left Alexandria for Gallipoli 4/9/1915. The 27th Battalion provided back-up for the exhausted New Zealand and Australian Division. They had a quiet time in Gallipoli and only suffered minor casualties. The Battalion departed off the peninsula in December. Throughout the time Edward was in Gallipoli Edward was hospitalised in late November returning to the field at the beginning of December. After Gallipoli while in Mudros at the 7th Field Ambulance fr0km 2/1/1916 – 1/2/1916 he was treated for bad wrist problems like arthritis and gangrene. He went AWL a couple of times firstly while in Egypt from 13/5/16 – 14/5/16 and was fined 7 days’ pay and punished with Field Punishment No. 2. The Battalion went to England for further training and again he went AWL from 19/6/1916 – 20/6/1916 and was fined 2 days’ pay.

The Battalion then travelled to France and fought at Pozieres until September. In October Edward was again in trouble for drunkenness and was punished with a 2-day Field Punishment No. 2.

Edward was wounded in action on 5/11/16 while fighting at Flers. He received a gun shot wound to his left hand and was admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station before taking the Ambulance Train to be sent to England 12/11/1916 for further treatment where his hand injury was classified as severe. After treatment he then went on Furlough for recovery from 2/1/1917 – 17/1/1917 at Perham Downs. There he sprained his ankle and returned to hospital and was transferred back to the depot at Perham Downs in April 1917. He returned to his unit 19/6/1917 and was wounded again in Belgium on 18/9/1917, with an injury to his left leg and hip. Again, he was taken by Ambulance train firstly treated at hospitals in France and then sent to England arriving at the West Suffolk Hospital 28/9/1917. To aid his recovery his was given furlough from 15/10/1917 – 29/10/1917 needing to report back to the Depot at Sutton Veny.  He completed more training and was again AWL from 22/11/1917 – 23/11/1917 fined 6 days pay and given Field Punishment No. 2

He then returned to France where he received a bullet in the chest from the enemies this was his third time being wounded in action on 9-8-18 and then admitted to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Then he was transferred to 61st Casualty Clearing Station where he died at 6 pm 11-8-18.

His death was put down in his archives as DoW which means Death of Wounds. He was buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery. This is where he was remembered for his brave acts and service to Australia. His death notice was sent to his next of kin who was Ellen McFarlane. Edward John Fahey received a Star Medallion, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.  

In loving memory of No.308 Private Edward John Fahey of the 27th Battalion

Lest We Forget