EDWARDS, John William
| Service Number: | 3507 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 July 1915, Bendigo, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 57th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brighton, Sussex, England, 27 January 1889 |
| Home Town: | Ironbark, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Long Gully State School, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Polygon Wood, Belgium, 26 September 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3507, Bendigo, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3507, 21st Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3507, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 26 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 60th Infantry Battalion, Egypt | |
| 15 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 57th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3507, 57th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 4 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3507, 57th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3507, 57th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood |
Help us honour John William Edwards's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Commemorated in Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria.
Parents: Edward John (d. 4 November 1923, aged 54; bu. Bendigo Cemetery) and Mary Ann (d. 24 June 1954, aged 84; bu. Bendigo Cemetery) EDWARDS, 23 Inglewood Road, Ironbark, Victoria.
Brother: 3506 Pte Alfred Percy EDWARDS, 57th Bn, killed in action, 8 August 1918.
Biography
PRIVATE J. W. EDWARDS.
The sad news was conveyed to Mrs. Edwards, of Mitiamo, late of Bendigo, on Monday night, by by the Rev. Mr. Plumtree, that Private J. W. Edwards, husband of Mrs. Eadie Edwards (nee Scott), had been killed in action on 26th September. Private Edwards was with the 57th Battalion, and left Australia on 29th December, 1915. Prior to leaving he was a great footballer, playing with Quarry Hill, and also a miner at the Carlisle mine, Long Gully. Private Edwards leaves a wife and young son to mourn a sad loss. Private Edwards was a brother-in-law to Private W. D. Scott, who has been wounded in France, and Private Andrew Scott." - from the Bendigo Advertiser 24 Oct 1917 (nla.gov.au)
EDWARDS.- Killed in action, on 26th September, somewhere in France, Private John William (Jack) Edwards, dearly beloved son of E. and M. A. Edwards, 23 Inglewood road, Ironbark, and loved brother of Private P. A. Edwards; on active service abroad; also loved brother of Lil, Wil, Louie, Sid, Silvie, Phyllis, and Bertie; also loved husband of Edith, and father of little Jack. A solider and a man. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Jack sleeps not in his native land, But under foreign skies; Far from the ones that loved him, In a hero's grave he lies. We pictured your safe return, Jack, And a clasp of your own dear hand; But God has willed our meeting Will be in a better land. "Deeply- mourned and sadly missed."
EDWARDS.- In sad but loving memory of my dear husband, Private J. W. Edwards (Jack), who was killed "Somewhere in France," 26th September, 1917; daddy of little Jack, also eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Edwards, Inglewood-road.
If I could have my dearest wish fulfilled, And those from heaven what'er we willed, Or take our choice of all earth's treasures, too, Dear Jack, I would ask for you. Dear is the grave where Jack is laid, Sweet is the memory never will fade; Roses may wither, leaves fade and die, If others forget you never shall we. -Inserted by his loving wife and son, Eadie and Jacky." - from the Bendigonian 01 Nov 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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