Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert James Edwards was born in Prospect, South Australia, in the early 1870s. He was born into a family that were Methodists, so this was his practising religion. He was employed as a Wharf Labourer, and this type of work was very laborious, as it involved loading and unloading large vessels. This prepared him for the physical challenges he would later encounter when enlisting into the military. Edwards went on to marry Cathleen Elizabeth Edwards, who was listed as his next of kin. They lived together in Birkenhead, North Adelaide.  

Edwards enlisted into the military on February 14th 1916, during World War I, as a Private. He was initially set to be in the 2nd depot Battalion. However, he was then moved to the 43rd Battalion. On June 9th 1916, Edwards’ unit embarked from Adelaide, SA, on board HMAT Afric.  While at sea Edwards experienced two days of fatigue on July 19th 1916. He arrived in England and spent several months in training camp. However, he was not regarded as fit to serve in the field due to his age. He returned to Australia on August 27th 1917. The total number of days that Edwards served was one year and 263 days, just short of 2 years.  During this time, he served a total of 1 year and 134 days overseas. 

Overall, Albert James Edwards was documented as having a very good character, which was common with many soldiers during this time.  Edwards is one of the lucky soldiers who managed to survive and return to Australia and live a good life after the war with his family, which included his wife Cathleen and a child. When returning to Birkenhead, South Australia, Edwards returned to his occupation of wharf labourer.

Albert was the son of Cephas Bath EDWARDS & Elizabeth JONES and was born on the 2nd of April 1872 in Prospect, SA.

His parents were married on the 19th of April 1863 at the residence of Cephas’s parents, in Prospect, SA.

His father was the son of George EDWARDS & Esther Elizabeth LE GALLEZ and was born on the 3rd of November 1843 in Bowden, SA.
His mother was the daughter of George JONES and was born in 1844 in Bedminster, Somerset, England.

Albert was the sixth child born into this family of 9 children.

His father was a labourer and the family lived in Prospect, SA.

They later moved for a short time to Myrtle Street, Islington and Albert and his siblings attended the Nailsworth Public School before they returned to Prospect.

On leaving school Albert gained employment as a labourer.

Albert married Catherine Elizabeth WEEN nee RICE on the 29th of August 1893 in the Registry Office, Adelaide, SA.
Catherine was the daughter of Joseph RICE & Maria SPURLING and was born in 1865 in Willunga, SA.

Catherine was previously married to James WEEN on the 8th of October 1884 and they had 3 children before James died on the 6th of September 1889.
Two of these children were still alive and Albert became a step-father to Harriet Elizabeth & Lottie May.

They made their first home in Prospect and welcomed their first child; Maud Ellen on the 1st of July 1894.
Ivy Alice was then born on the 19th of May 1896, followed by Frederick James on the 13th of September 1898.

They then moved to Elder Road, Birkenhead and Albert gained employment as a Wharf Labourer and they welcomed their last child; Alexander Ween on the 7th of February 1907.

At the age of 45, Albert enlisted into the AIF on the 14th of February 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 1145 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
Two days later he was posted to the 10th Battalion, 17th Reinforcements and then he was transferred to the on the newly raised 43rd Battalion, A Company at Morphettville Camp.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 9th of June 1916, disembarked in France and then proceeded to England.
He trained at No.12 Camp, Lark Hill, which was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to their departure for the front.

On the 9th of September he was transferred to the 10th Battalion at the 3rd Training Battalion in Durrington Camp.
He remained here in training and spent Christmas 1916 here before being medically classified C1 (Fit for Home Service only), due to senility.

On the 9th of August he was posted to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth awaiting his return to Australia.

Albert embarked for Australia from Devonport on the 27th of August 1917 on board SS Pakeha and disembarked in Adelaide on the 20th of October.

He returned to his wife, young family and occupation in Birkenhead and was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 3rd of November 1917.

Sadly, Catherine died on the 9th of October 1920 and Albert buried her in the Dudley Park Cemetery; Section TAG, Path C, Site 0141, with her infant son, Leonard James WEEN and her first husband.

By 1939 Albert had retired and was living with his son Alexander and his family at 39 Rann Street, Birkenhead.
He then went to live with his daughter Ivy and her family at 28 Swigg Street, Birkenhead.

On the 27th of April 1940 Albert was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital but unfortunately he died there, 3 days later, on the 30th of April.
He was buried the following day in the Dudley Park Cemetery; Section TAG, Path C, Site 0141.

EDWARDS. —THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. ALBERT JAMES EDWARDS (late A.I.F.) are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave the residence of his son-in law Mr M H. Smith, No. 28 Swigg Street, Birkenhead, on WEDNESDAY, at 2 pm for the Dudley Park Cemetery.
SIDNEY HARRISON. Undertaker

With the outbreak of WW2, his son Alexander enlisted into the 6th Australian Army Transport Company on the 1st of September 1942 (SX22232).

Military

At the age of 45, Albert enlisted into the AIF on the 14th of February 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 1145 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his wife, of Elder Road, Birkenhead, as his next of kin.

Two days later he was posted to the 10th Battalion, 17th Reinforcements and then he was transferred to the on the newly raised 43rd Battalion, A Company at Morphettville Camp.

The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.

Albert gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.

At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and Albert now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of Albert’s homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Albert availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10am. the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 p.m.
The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.

Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45 pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30 am.
After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

Albert spent the next few weeks here in training and then on the 9th of September he was transferred to the 10th Battalion at the 3rd Training Battalion in Durrington Camp.
He remained here in training and spent Christmas 1916 here before being medically classified C1 (Fit for Home Service only), due to senility.

On the 9th of August he was posted to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth awaiting his return to Australia.

Albert embarked for Australia from Devonport on the 27th of August 1917 on board SS Pakeha and disembarked in Adelaide on the 20th of October.

Albert was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 3rd of November 1917 and awarded the British War Medal.