Edward Thomas SYMONS #4982
Edward Thomas Symons "Ted" service number 4982 was born 11th August 1882 in Blinman in the Flinders Ranges SA. When Ted was 18 he wanted to fight in the Boer War but was told by his father George Thomas Symons he was not allowed to. Ted left and was never seen by his family again. They heard he had gone to WA and they searched for years to try and find him. On his enlistment papers for next of kin he wrote "none" even though his parents George and Mary Ann Symons and 10 siblings were alive. All 5 boys of George and Mary Ann went to WW1 with 2 being killed in France and Belgium (Albert Gilroy Symons and John Malcolm Symons). Ted often changed his year he was born but never his date of birth 11th August. Ted received shell wounds to his back and was gassed. He returned to WA where he worked in the mines and the railway. He never married. In WW2 he enlisted again service number W42795 but was finally discharged when they found out he was over 60 yrs of age. (He made out he was born in Katherine in 1897) Ted spent his final years as a Geriactric patient at the Beverley and Brookton Hospitals in WA where he was affectionally known as "Pop". He died aged 87 years and is buried at the Beverley Anglican Cemetery in WA. Family members have visited his grave and would have loved for him to have known that he was loved and never forgotten.
Submitted 21 February 2022
by Janet Christian
