Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in England on the 8th December 1905 in Bosham, Sussex, Edward was named after his father, Edward Thomas, with the name Thomas also being handed down to this third generation. Edward Jnr’s mother was Alice Jane (nee Hacker). At the time of young Edward’s birth, his father was serving with the 3rd Battalion in India, a role he continued until 1909 when he returned to England, working as a gardener. By that stage he had three British-born children, Edward and two sisters, Florence Alice and Ethel Grace. The family soon decided to sail to Australia via Gelong, before heading to South Australia.
With the outbreak of the War to End All Wars, Edward Snr enlisted on Edward Jnr’s 9th birthday in December ’14 and headed for Egypt. He had a colourful record, including a charge for desertion (for a day) with concrete evidence being challenging to substantiate. He did arrive at Gallipoli, then eventually sailed to France where he was wounded at Mouquet Farm and hospitalised. In the battle at Etaples he was captured and became a Prisoner of War in Germany with more injuries, including to his thigh. He was eventually able to return to Australia where he was discharged on the 30th May ’21. By this stage, his son Edward Jnr was fifteen. Unfortunately, 57-year-old Edward Snr died in August ’25, with nineteen old Edward continuing to assume a leadership role in the family. As a War Veteran, Edward Snr. was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Edward, then working as a painter in the Holden car Bonnet Shop, almost immediately joined the Citizen Forces as 203610 in the 27th Battalion, having also served in the 6th Brigade Band. The family continued to live in Torrensville where young Edward’s love of music and his involvement in local bands continued to evolve. He taught music and became the leader of various music groups. At the opening of the new Thebarton Town Hall in ’33, Edward gave a flugel horn solo, one of several quality performances by the local Thebarton Brass Band. He travelled to many different locations to compete against other Brass Bands, including Nuriootpa for their first Annual Band Carnival in ’39 when he was the conductor of the Adelaide Girls’ Brass Band. Over 3,000 people crowded the footpaths of the main street to watch the Bands march-past. Bands came from Clare, Eudunda, Hahndorf, Loxton, Marananga, Prospect and Riverton.
The following year, Edward, as bandmaster of the Adelaide Girls’ Band provided a concert from the rotunda in the Semaphore Memorial Gardens each Wednesday evening. However, War loomed, and 34-year-old Edward followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting on the 19th June ’40 as SX6379. He was briefly allocated to the Field Ambulance and for a month to the 2/43rd before being transferred to the sister battalion, the 2/48th where he became a sergeant.
In October Edward announced his marriage to Elsie Maud Penhall of Henley Beach. They married in the Holy Trinity Church on the 17th of October at 7.30 p.m. With the hasty arrangements and challenging war conditions, no reception was held.
During intensive training at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, on the 3rd November a corps of drums and the flag of the original 48th Battalion were handed over to the 2/48th. The drums were presented to Corporal Morgan, then placed under the command of Corporal Fotheringham. John Glenn, in Tobruk to Tarakan, reported that “The drums, like the unit band, which was under Sergeant Budgen, were not fully appreciated at first; later, however, they became a great source of battalion pride when ever they headed our marches in Syria and Palestine.”

All too soon, Edward boarded the Stratheden on the 17th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 7th December.
In the desert conditions, the heat, flies and army rations, Edward, nick-named Ted, in June had severe stomach problems causing him to be hospitalised and spend time in a rest camp. His health continued to cause problems with dysentery, enteritis and sandfly fever. During this time he earned the prestigious title of being a Rat of Tobruk. Ironically it was designed by the enemy to demoralise the troops who were living in hand-hewn dust and dirt shelters, beset by insects and rats. The taunt had the opposite effect.
In February ’41, news was received that there would be a ‘Veteran’s Championship’ between the two sister battalions, the 2/48th and the 2/43rd They would be led by Edward as bandmaster of the 2/48th and C. Bail who had been conductor of the Adelaide Municipal Band. The Advertiser reported that ‘Both these Bands are in excellent mettle and have taken part in several massed band demonstrations somewhere in Egypt.’
Glenn also recorded that on the 22nd April that year, ‘the battalion moved to a camp among the olive groves at Bechmezzine. Company canteens and beer gardens were quickly established, and Teddy Budgen’s Band gave concerts in the evening.’
Following many rumours and ‘gestimates’ the 2/48th returned to Australia, via Melbourne, at the start of February ’42.
Training in the tropical conditions of Ravenshoe, Queensland followed. It was the first time the men had enjoyed a Christmas on home soil over the five years of war. On the 10th July, a Picnic Race Meeting was held and the 9th Division Rodeo Show. Glenn described how ‘In a short speech Brigadier Whitehead made reference to the splendid work Teddy Budgen had done in training bandsmen during his service with the 2/48th Battalion.’
Ted was sent to Milne Bay from Cairns in August ’43. Two months later, his 75-year-old mother, Alice died in hospital. The three children placed a tribute to her in the News. ‘BUDGEN.-On October 29, at a private hospital, Alice Jane widow of Edward Thomas Budgen, of 76 West street. Torrensville, loving mother of Ted A.I.F., Florrie. and Ethel; aged 75 years.’ She was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery. After six months Ted was able to return to Brisbane and thence to South Australia. He and Elsie continued to remember Alice. ‘BUDGEN.—In memory of mother, who passed away October 29, 1943.—Inserted by her loving son Ted, daughter-in-law Elsie.’
War conditions had been unkind to Edward, but at that stage were relatively not understood. He was finally discharged in July ‘45
By ’51, Edward returned to his life’s passion and returned to being the bandmaster of the Port Adelaide Municipal Band which each Sunday evening conducted a "Music by the Sea" in the Semaphore Bandstand. He was lauded for bringing the band up to a high standard of playing, with music varying from classical overtures, selections, popular waltzes, xylophone solos, vocal solos, and modern hit tunes which proved very popular with the younger patrons. Under Edward’s leadership, the Band supported local charities, raising more than a hundred pounds for Le Fevre Community Hospital. At Christmas time, the Band combined with the Ex Navalmen's Band presenting a successful "Carols by Candlelight" programme. The Band also led the Largs Oval Gala Day procession, thus helping the local sporting bodies who used the Largs Oval.
Edward continued to travel with the band, including Easter ’51 when they visited Port Pirie for the first time. A large audience attended an outdoor concert at the Memorial Park. The following day they paraded down the main streets where their presentations were admired and appreciated.
Historically, the Port Adelaide Football Club, founded in 1870, always had a Brass Band to liven up home and away matches. Edward continued to lead the Port Adelaide Municipal Band in the Tanunda Band Competitions, coming second in ’52 with the adjudicator being Mr. Henry Krips, conductor of the S.A. Symphony Orchestra. The following year the band won the Aggregate Cup and proudly held a Subscription Concert in the Port Adelaide Town Hall. That year Edward also took on the role of Secretary as well as being Band Master.
Aged 88, Edward died on the 17th March ’94. Just over a year later Elsie died on the 17th April 1995 and was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.