Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edgar Herbert Sheather was born in 1891, at Youngel, NSW. At the time of his birth his father, Reuben, (1827 to 1904) was 64, and his mother, Elizabeth Rosina, nee Sullivan (1864 to 1948), was 27. Edgar Herbert would have two brothers. Their names were Reuben Daniel (1889 to 1959) and James Evelyn (1890 to 1959).

On the 5 October, 1916, Edgar enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) at Melbourne, Victoria. He was given the service number 3133 and was put on strength with the 8th Light Horse Regiment. His next of kin was given as his mother, Elizabeth, who lived at Fairfield, Khancoban, New South Wales. His father, Reuben had passed away in 1904 when Edgar was only 13.

Upon enlistment, he was a 25-year-old labourer, standing 5 foot 6 inches (168 cm) and weighing 160 lbs (73 kg). His complexion was given as medium, eyes blue and hair brown. Edgar’s records show that he had three vaccination marks on his left arm and moles on his abdomen. His religious denomination was given as Roman Catholic. Edgar’s medical examination had taken place at Corryong, Victoria, with local doctor, G. Greenham signing the certificate.

Edgar embarked on HMAT A25 Anglo-Egyptian on the 31 January, 1917, at Melbourne, Victoria. The trip would take him across the Great Australian Bight to Fremantle, on to Colombo, in Ceylon, before finally disembarking at Suez, at the southern end of the Suez Canal, in Egypt on the 3 March, 1917.

Trooper Sheather marched into the Isolation Camp at Moascar on the same day and stayed there for a period of eleven days. He was taken on strength by the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment before finally making his way back to the 8th Light Horse on the 22 April, 1917, at Tel-el-Marakeb.

On the 14 September, 1917, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Abasan suffering from diphtheria. Although he would get better from this infection and be released back to his Regiment in early November, he would be readmitted to hospital, via a long series of movements, suffering from chronic gonorrhoea. Edgar would end up spending a total of 192 days in various hospitals, and lose £48 of his wages, due to this condition. A typical movement consisted of first being admitted to the 13th Canadian Field Ambulance, followed by three days at the 66th Casualty Clearing Station, 1 day at the Scottish Horse Ambulance, 2 days at the 44th Australian Stationary Hospital and finally to the No. 2 Australian Stationary Hospital at Moascar.

Upon being released from hospital on the 7 June, 1918, he was paraded before the Medical Board and sent to work in the Depot Stores at Gezira. His final posting before being discharged was being attached for duty at the Australian Soldiers Club in Cairo.

At his own request, Edgar was discharged while still in Egypt, on the 22 August, 1919. A statement, written by Edgar, states his reasons for wanting to be discharged in Egypt.

“I wish to commence a business in Egypt. I have already handed out £100 to my interests in Cairo, Re horses. Besides spending £200 toward importation from Australia Viz furs from [script difficult to interpret] Tumbarumba, the object being, to make a brisk start as soon as Demobilised.”

For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Electoral rolls indicate that Edgar lived in a number of places after returning from the war. These include; Ardlethan (1930), Deniliquin (1943), both in New South Wales and Mulgrave, Victoria (1954). He died in 1961, in Seaford, Victoria, at the age of 70.

Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.