MCLUNE, Edward
| Service Number: | 2783 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | East Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed In Action, place of death not yet discovered, date not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix |
| Memorials: | Corinda Sherwood Shire Roll of Honor, East Brisbane War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2783, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2783, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Bee, Brisbane |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Edward McLune was a 26year old labourer when he enlisted on 24th July 1915. He was one of three brothers who had been born in Ipswich and by the time of his enlistment his parents were deceased. Edward gave his address as C/- Miss Collins of Norman Street, East Brisbane and named his eldest brother James McLune of “Oakleigh” Francis Estate, Corinda as his next of kin.
Edward was originally drafted as a reinforcement for the 25th Battalion and embarked on the “Seang Bee” in Brisbane on 21st October. Edward’s arrival in Egypt in December 1915 coincided with the withdrawal of all the Australian forces from Gallipoli. For the next three months, the Australian Corps would be doubled in size by creating new battalions. Edward was transferred to the 9th Battalion; another wholly Queensland Battalion, in March 1916 and one month later arrived in Marseilles.
From Marseilles, the 9th travelled by train north to the rear areas behind the front at Strazelle where they went into billets in preparation for further training and instruction on the use of the newly issued trench mortars.
This area of the front was comparatively quiet and the battalion rotated in and out of the line frequently. The part of the line in front of the 9th was heavily defended by a well placed German machine gun and the Brigade Commander decided that a trench raid could provide the battalion with valuable experience as well as knocking out the troublesome machine gun. On 11th June, a raiding party of 5 officers and 150 other ranks was assembled from volunteers and began training for the raid which would take place on the night of the 1st and 2nd of July. The raid was supported by artillery and trench mortars and resulted in a number of enemy being captured as well as the machine gun, which the battalion eventually presented to the Queensland Government. The battalion war diary recorded that 53 enemy were killed gut the battalion suffered one officer and five other ranks killed, one of which was Private Edward McLune.
Edward’s mates were able to bring his body back to the Australian lines and he was buried in the Rue de Bois Military cemetery near Fleurbaix. Edwards few personal possessions were returned to his brother, James, at Corinda.
Courtesy of Ian Lang
Mango Hill