HALES, Edward Herbert Lander
| Service Number: | 6027 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 38th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Nhill, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Nhill, Hindmarsh, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Nhill State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 10 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais Plot I, Row G, Grave 4 Headstone Inscription "LOVED SON OF M.R.& T.HALES THY WILL BE DONE" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6027, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 6027, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 6027, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 10 Mar 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6027, 38th Infantry Battalion, Killed in action |
Help us honour Edward Herbert Lander Hales's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Daryl Jones
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Rosina HALES, of Woomelang, Victoria, Australia.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His younger brother, 7079 Pte Hedley Locton Gribble Hales, 37th Battalion AIF, was killed in action just over six months later, 4 October 1917, during the Battle of Broodseinde, Belgium.
Edward Hales was severely wounded on the 27 February 1917, (gunshot right arm and chest) and died of his wounds almost a fortnight later in the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
A letter from a mate appeared in the Nhill Free Press during July 1917,
Somewhere in France, April 1917. “Dear Mrs. Hales (Woomelang)— It is with regret that I have to write you this letter re your son's (Herbert) death, but it was his wish that I am doing so, as we had arranged to do so should anything happen to either of us during a task which we had to do. Herb and I were mates in Nhill, where he worked, also in camp in Bendigo, Broadmeadows, England and France, and we were always together wherever we went.
It was during a raid on the German trenches recently where Herb was wounded—a bullet entered his arm and side and one though his back (the last-named causing his death). The stretcher-bearers carried him through slush, mud, and shell holes over No Man's Land to our trenched, then he walked out to the dressing station appearing to be only slightly wounded. However, he bore it bravely right through, and just before he died the Sister informed me that he was all the time calling out for me, but, unfortunately, I could not get there to see him. He died on the 11th March and is buried in a cemetery in France with other Australian comrades, and a wooden cross with his name attached was placed at the head of his grave. We feel his loss keenly and miss him very much as he was a favorite with all, and I ask you to accept my deepest sympathy, also from all the other boys, in your sad bereavement, but it is consoling to know that he died a hero for a just cause and for king and country. Wishing you and all best wishes. I remain, yours sincerely, Private JIM ROBERTSON.
P.S. I am enclosing some photos that were found in Herb's pack, you may know some of them.
(Private James Robertson (Robbie) was killed in France on 9th June 1917. He was formerly a compositor on the staff of the Nhill Free Press. Editor N.F.P.)