WORLAND, Edward John
| Service Number: | 1269 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 November 1915, An original member of D Company |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Mitchells Island, Greater Taree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ferryman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France Plot VIII, Row A, Grave 11. HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY MAY HE REST IN PEACE |
| Memorials: | Coffs Harbour Roll of Honor, Mitchells Island WW1 Roll of Honour, Oxley Island Soldiers Great War Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1269, 35th Infantry Battalion, An original member of D Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1269, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1269, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 30 Aug 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 35th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-08-30 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Edward John Worland was the son of Joseph John and Caroline Worland. His mother had passed away during 1902 and his father during 1913. He was born near Cooma, in the Monaro area of New South Wales.
His younger brother, 2899 Pte. Robert Charles Clyde Worland, also of the 35th Battalion was killed in action at Messines in Belgium on 10 June 1917, aged 23. Both brothers were living at Mitchell’s Island, at the mouth of the Manning River, New South Wales, and both enlisted in the 35th Battalion.
Edward must have been a very proficient soldier. He was quickly made a Lance Corporal after he arrived on the Western Front during November 1916. He was wounded in action during May 1917, gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and leg, and it was late July 1917 before he rejoined his unit. He was promoted to Sergeant, Company Sergeant Major, then Second Lieutenant before the end of 1917. He was given two weeks leave to England in early 1918, then promoted to Lieutenant on 3 April 1918.
He was thrice recommended for the Military Cross, once for leading various daring patrols during July 1918, once for conspicuous gallantry during the attack on 8 August 1918, and the third time he was successful in winning the award, although he was mortally wounded only a few days later.
His Military Cross was awarded for, “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Curlu, on 28th August, 1918, when in command of an assault platoon. He led his men with great dash overcoming all opposition, and when his Lewis gunners became casualties, he handled the gun himself. He was the first to establish his position on the objective, in the face of heavy machine gun fire.”
He suffered very severe shrapnel wounds to the abdomen on 29 August 1918 and died in a Casualty Clearing Station near Amiens the next day.
A surviving sister, Annie Worland received all of his entitlements and possessions.
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