Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"...2nd Lieutenant George Albert Eddy, of Castlemaine, Vic. He served as a Major and Second in Command of the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles during the Boer War. As a Major, Eddy was killed in action on 12 February 1900, whilst bringing his men forward to cover the retreat of the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment at Rensburg. He was killed in the same action as Lieutenant James Roberts and Corporal Alex Ross." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"The Late Major Eddy. — Mrs. Eddy, widow of the late Major Eddy, has received a letter from Sir. F. Ponsonby, private secretary to the Queen, stating that Her Majesty would like to possess a photograph of Major Eddy, and asking Mrs. Eddy to forward one for Her Majesty's acceptance. The letter continues: — "The Queen deplores tho death of so brave an officer, and desires me to convey to you the expression of Her Majesty's deep sympathy with you in the irreparable loss you have suffered by his death." - from the Benalla Standard 15 Jan 1901 (nla.gov.au)

Son

EDDY, Capt. Jack Rylot. 1st Div. Ammunition Col. Australian Field Artillery. Killed in action 4th Oct., 1917. Age 23. Son of George Albert and Cecilia Eddy, of 50, Arthur St., South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria. Reninghelst New Military Cemetery Belgium IV. C. 4.

George’s son Jack Rylot Eddy was only 6 years of age when his father was killed in the Boer War. He was one the first to enlist in Australia for WW1 in September of 1914. His mother said that Jack was a cadet at the age of 9 years, was a Boy Scout and in the Citizen Forces until war started. He was Lieutenant at 18 years of age and left Melbourne for the front when 20 years of age. He left Australia as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Division Ammunition Column, Australian Field Artillery, He served on the Gallipoli peninsular from September 1915, with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and was killed in action, during the Passchandaele battles, 4th October, 1917. He was hit by an artillery shell near Zillebeke, and died within a few hours. Captain Jack Rylot Eddy was 23 years of age, and is buried in the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery Belgium. The widow and mother Cecilia Eddy, at that stage lived in South Yarra, Victoria.

VICTIMS OF THE BATTLE-OF RENSBURG.
Major Eddy, the first of the Vic. officers to give his life for the flag was a typical Australian—a tall, well-set, strong man, in the very prime of life. He hails from Beaufort, where he  was a State school teacher. In the war scare over the Pendjeh incident in the earlyeighties he was brought into the Ballarat battalion when it was increased to a strength.  He  continued in the as a lieutenant, and was one of its most valuable officers. When the Rangers Regiment was formed by Colonel Otter in the farming districts, Major Eddy was
offered the adjutancy as a permanent position.
He received a year's leave from the Education Department to see if he would like military life. He stayed on soldiering, and, out of the scattered companies of farmers, he and  Colonel Otter formed a fine regiment of Volunteer Rangers, many of whom are in the three Vic. Contingents. He was made a major some little time since, and when it was found  that he was willing to lead the Vic. infantry in South Africa the Defence Department looked no further for their chief officer. He had plenty of courage, and was liked by all his men.  His death is deeply regretted in Vic., and cuts short a very promising career.