GALLARD, Edward Charles
| Service Number: | 20570 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 May 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | Light Motor Set Wireless Troop and 1st Reinforcements |
| Born: | Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia, 22 May 1897 |
| Home Town: | Eastwood, Ryde, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrical fitter |
| Died: | 17 May 1979, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 20570, Light Motor Set Wireless Troop and 1st Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 1917: | Involvement Sapper, 20570, Light Motor Set Wireless Troop and 1st Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Dec 1917: | Embarked Sapper, 20570, Light Motor Set Wireless Troop and 1st Reinforcements, HMAT Ulysses, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Edward Charles Gallard
Edward C Gallard was born on the 22nd of May 1897. His father was Hyram S Gallard and his mother was Annie J Gallard. He had a younger sister by the name Marjorie Gallard. He lived in Eastwood, Ryde in New South Wales. He joined Sydney Technical High school approximately 22 May 1909 and graduated 4 years later, approximately 22 May 1913. He was employed for four years as an apprentice for the Sydney Tramway Depot starting after he graduated. His acts of bravery in war are memorialised on an honour board found in the Auditorium of Sydney Technical High School.
Edward Charles Gallard enlisted four days before his 20th birthday. He was enlisted as a Private Recruit and was chosen as a Sapper (military engineer) on 18 May 1917. He joined Light Motor Wireless Section. As he was a Sapper, he was "constructing the lines of defence, temporary bridges, tunnels and trenches, observation posts, roads, railways, communication lines, buildings of all kinds, showers and bathing facilities, and other material and mechanical solutions to the problems associated with fighting in all theatres."[1]
Edward Charles Gallard embarked to the SUEZ on the 19 December 1917 and disembarked at Seuz on 16 January 1918. He was subsequently then embarked to Bombay, Versova and Basra on 26th February, 2nd March and 8th March respectively, before serving at Baghdad for the remainder of the war. He returned to Australia on 29 January 1919.
A quote from a good friend of Gallard shows the surreal experiences he had as a sapper, "This is the foal we have in the horse lines. Its mother can be seen behind the boys. This mare was captured by us from the Turks."[2] This quote was written as a caption for a picture and was authored by Sapper Richard Smith.
Edward Charles Gallard died on 17 March 1979 at the age of 81 years. His grave's location is unknown but his acts will be commemorated in the Auditorium of Sydney Technical High School for the centuries to come along with the heroes that lost their lives to ensure that the future generation have a good life.
[1] https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/australian-engineers-in-the-first-world-war
[2] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2740604
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