Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward was born on the 7th December 1919 at Iron Knob to Amy Jane and Michael Laurence Sheridan. Edward’s father, Michael came to South Australia from County Clare in Ireland. He arrived at Port Adelaide in June 1866, aged two, with three older siblings and a younger brother, born on the voyage from Liverpool via Plymouth. Initially the family settled in Port Lincoln, beginning his first employment as a quarrying partner with his father. However, by the age of eighteen, Michael went shearing for several stations in the north of South Australia until he married Amy Jane Sergent of Wilgena in 1898. Michael then found work with the Broken Hill Proprietary Company at Iron Knob, out of Whyalla (known then as Hummock Hill). This town on the Eyre Peninsula, initially flourished because of its extensive deposits of high-quality iron ore.
The family lived at Iron Knob for seventeen years with many of their children born there. Edward (‘Ned’) was one of fourteen children, with siblings including Gertrude May, Mary Ellen, William Lincoln, Michael Morten, Jack, Dent, Kathleen Anne, Martin, Rita, Lawrence James, David Lesley, Frederick Raymond and Iris. Distressingly, almost four years prior to Ned’s arrival, a 13 ½ months old baby boy, Terrence Lee died in tragic circumstances on Feb 13th 1916. He was buried at the Iron Knob Cemetery. It was a disastrous year for the family as early in June that year a fire destroyed all their belongings. Typical of the times and the generosity of locals help and support was provided with Michael and Amy placing thanks ‘sincerely thank the people of Iron Knob and Hummock Hill for their many kindnesses and generous assistance extended in connection with the loss sustained through the fire that destroyed their belongings on Monday, June 3rd, 1913.’ And to ‘the Yudnapinna Station friends (especially Mr and Mrs B. Smith and Mr and Mrs Haggarty) for kind assistance during their recent misfortune.’
When Ned was two, the family moved to Port Augusta in 1921 where Michael found employment with the rapidly expanding Commonwealth Railways. Despite the move, poignant tributes to Terrance continued to be placed in the newspapers for several years prior to Ned’s arrival including the year of his birth and also in later years;
Advertiser Thursday 13 February 1919, SHERIDAN.—In sad but loving memory of our darling son and brother, Terrance Lee Sheridan, died February 13, 1916. R.I.P. Three sad years have passed, dear Terrance, Your face we cannot see, But let this little token tell We still remember thee. Inserted by his loving mother, father, sisters, and brothers, Iron Knob.

Ned was just thirteen when his 69 yar old father died on the 12th March 1933. He was buried in the Roman Catholic Section of the Port Augusta Cemetery. Four years later, with Ned aged seventeen, his 56-year-old mother Amy Jane died on the 6th February 1937 and was also buried in the same cemetery.
Ned continued to work as a skilled labourer, testing the quality of ore but with the escalation of the war, he initially enlisted at Iron Knob on the 9th June ’42. By 18th September ’43, he was officially accepted and initially named his married sister, Gertrude (‘May’) Hill as his next of kin. Ned later nominated Michael Morten Sheridan in this role. Ned’s older brother, William Lincoln (known as Lincoln), a shearer, had served for eight years with the 9/23rd Light Horse Brigade as S7645, rising to the rank of Corporal. Aged 42 he also enlisted as SX25809 on the 8th October ’42 and serving with the 22 Employment Company. He also nominated his older brother Michael Morten Sheridan as his next of kin. He also served in New Guinea from August ’43 until September ‘44
Ned was allocated the number SX33180. Back in Iron Knob the Soldiers' Reception Committee organised a farewell to 107673 Norma Petrie (W.A.A.F.) and Private Ned Sheridan, attended by about 70 friends. Following speeches by the locals and R.S.L. sub-branch representative, the new enlistees were each presented with a wallet and monetary gift. A generous supper followed. By June ’44 Ned was officially with the highly regarded 2/48th Battalion. He had brief leave in Iron Knob for Christmas ’44, which resulted with a dance being held at the Memorial Hall to welcome him home.
Training in Queensland followed to prepare the forces for the humidity they would experience in New Guinea. Ned left Townsville early in April ’45 for Morotai and thence to Tarakan. By September he experienced an upper respiratory tract infection that required a fortnight’s treatment. Several disciplinary incidents followed whist overseas, which attracted a financial fine before Ned finally returned to Australia via Sydney in May ’46. In the closing days of the war, Ned was transferred to undertake a two-month brief stint at the Loveday Internment Camp at Barmera in the Murray River area. This had housed prisoners and internees of Italian, German and Japanese descent. During the war fresh produce was grown, including vegetables and fruit and bred pigs and poultry. It also produced opium poppies to extract morphine for the treatment of injured troops. Annoyed, Ned took ten days of ‘unofficial’ leave, resulting in the loss of eleven day’s pay. He was officially discharged from Loveday on the 10th September ’46. His older brother, Bill had been discharged the previous year on 17th December ’45, returning to work as a station-hand in the Iron Knob region..
70-year-old Ned died on the 26th December 1990 and was buried in Port Augusta West Cemetery Row M Plot 13. Nearby are both parents and several brothers, including his older serving brother, William who died aged 55, Lawrence James and sister Mary Ellen Martin.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.