Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward was the son of John Henry MURCH & Ellen Ann CAIRNS and was born on the 12th of February 1881 in Birkenhead, SA.

WW1

At the age of 35, Edward enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 18th of October 1916 in Wentworth, NSW allotted the service number 7042 and posted to the 21st Depot Battalion in Royal Park Camp.
He listed his father, of Largs Bay, as his next of kin and stated he had never been convicted of a crime

On the 18th of November he was posted to the 7th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcements.

Edward embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A20 Hororata on the 23rd of November 1916 and after spending Christmas 1916 on board the ship he disembarked in Plymouth on the 29th of January 1917.
He marched into the 2nd Training Battalion at Perham Downs where he continued his training until the 3rd of May when he proceeded to France.

Edward was taken on strength on the 16th of May with the 7th Battalion at Biefvillers Camp in training.

On the 24th of May they marched to Ovillers and the following morning they marched to Henencourt where they billeted in huts in a wood and continued training.
They remained here for 3 weeks and then marched to Bolton Camp at Mailly-Mallet on the 18th of June, where they practiced open warfare operations for a few days.

Their next move was to Engelsart Camp, Engelbelmer for training and on the 24th and on the night of the 28th they captured the deserted village of Auchonvillers in a night operation.
On the 12th of July they lined the Albert Road to cheer His Majesty King George V. as he passed. Two days later they moved to Bray and continued strenuous training.
After 10 days here they moved to Meaulte, entrained at Aveluy on the 27th, arrived at Caestre, and marched to billets at St. Marie Cappell.

On the 8th of August they marched 18 miles to the vicinity of Bailleul.
German aeroplanes frequently came over at night and were engaged by machine guns. One night four bombs were dropped on the Battalion area, but did no damage.
Their next move was to Berthen on the 13th of September and the following day they moved to Scottish Lines, Reninghelst.

Four days later they had reached Chateau Legard, Belgium and the following day they moved to Zillebeke Bund, ready to move for the upcoming attack.
Their training was completed, and, as fresh troops, they were now to be involved once more in the big fighting.

On the 19th of September at 11pm they left after a hot meal, and moved forward in the inky darkness through steady rain by a boggy and slippery track.
They carried a quantity of ammunition, etc., to last 48 hours, which rendered their task still more difficult. It was unfortunate that it should rain that night after weeks of perfect weather. By 4.45am they were in position on the tapes, waiting for the attack to commence.
At 5.40am down came the barrage and they went forward under it. Prisoners soon began to trickle back, dazed by the barrage and upon reaching a recently evacuated pill-box they found a breakfast spread and a candle still burning.
The only difficulty experienced was that some of their own guns were firing a little short and causing casualties, but by 11am they had gained their objective.

They were relieved at midnight by the 3rd Battalion and their casualties for the attack consisted of 22 killed, 13 died of wounds, 160 wounded and 5 missing.
They had captured 2 machine guns, taken 93 prisoners and had killed about 700 enemy before moving to Dickiebusch. They were then bussed to Steenvoorde for rest and training.
On the 1st of October they were bussed back to Dickiebusch and the following night they had a long heavy march and relieved the 11th Battalion in the trenches at Westhoek Ridge.
The following afternoon they moved forward for the attack and at 5:20am the next morning they lay crowded on their assembly line for the Battle of Passchendale.

Here an intense enemy barrage descended on them, and continued to play on their lines.
Considerable losses were sustained, but to have attempted to escape would have upset the order of attack and resulted in inextricable confusion. There was nothing they could do but lie low and hope for the best.
After some time, with the first burst from their guns they rose, those who were able, and moved forward out of the zone of shell-fire into the peace and safety of No Man’s Land and managed to attach and reach their objective.
They remained here until the 5th of October when they were relieved by the 11th Battalion and moved to Swan Chateau. Their total loss, dead and wounded, from this attack was about 50% of the Battalions strength.

On the 11th of October they moved to Reninghelst and 4 days later they moved to Halifax Camp, where they began a period of training.
Their next move was to Ypres on the 22nd and they camped beneath the ramparts in Esplanade Gap. The following day they moved forward to Anzac Ridge and at night relieved the 16th Battalion in the line for 7 days before moving to Belgium Chateau.
The weather was cold and showery, but training was steadily carried on and fatigue parties were sent to Ypres.

On the 12th of November they left the line behind, and, entraining to Arques, near St.
Omer, marched by stages to Desvres, where they were billeted.
They spent a month here in rest and on the 11th of December moved out of Desvres and entrained to Rossignol Camp, Kemmel.
The following night they were in the line again in the sector beyond Wytschaete.
Here they encountered some bitterly cold snowy weather and Christmas
Day 1917 was a perisher. The enemy celebrated Boxing Day by concentrating their artillery on a bombardment of Denys Wood, with mustard gas.

There was no wind and the poison penetrated the dugouts and hung about the wood for days before finally evaporating.
It was here during this mustard gas attack on the 28th of December that Edward suffered from mustard gas poisoning and was admitted into the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Trois Arbres.

Two days later Edward was transferred by No.17 Ambulance Train to the 55th General Hospital in Wimereux and on the 5th of January 1918 he was evacuated to England on board HS St David and admitted into the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk.
Edward remained here for 2 weeks until the 21st of January when he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford.
Four days later he was granted furlo and then reported to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny on the 8th of February and medically classified B1A3 (Fit for overseas training camp in two to three weeks).

On the 18th of April he was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade in Longbridge Deverill, proceeded back to France on the 15th of May and marched into the AIBD (Australian Infantry Base Depot) in Le Havre.
He marched out to join his Battalion on the 18th of May but whilst in transit he became ill and was admitted into the 1st Australian General Hospital in Rouen.
Edward was invalided back to England on the 22nd of May and admitted into the 1st Southern General Hospital, Stourbridge Section.

He remained here for 11 days and was discharged to Furlo on the 4th of June and then reported to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny on the 18th.
Edward was still here when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918 and he never returned to France.
He spent Christmas 1918 here and on the 8th of April 1919 he went AWOL for 1 day and was forfeited 1 days pay.

Edward embarked from England on the 7th of July 1919 on board HT Chemnitz and when the transport stopped at Durban Edward went AWOL on the 12th of August.
He was also charged with stealing goods from a comrade and conduct to the prejudice and was forfeited 28 day pay.

He disembarked in Adelaide on the 2nd of September and was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 11th of October 1919.
He was awarded the British War & Victory Medals.

WW2

At the age of 51, Edward enlisted into the AMF on the 3rd of October 1939 in Adelaide allotted the service number S212457 and posted to the 4th Garrison Battalion.
He listed his brother John, as his next of kin.

On the 17th of February Edward went AWOL for 2 days and was charged with disobeying a command and was warded 7 days confined to barracks.
Edward was discharged from the AMF on the 20th of March as unfit for duties.