Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Warrant-Officer Mason, Evening News, Tuesday 31st October 1899, Page 5 –

“Warrant Officer Edmund Percy Mason, Army Medical Corps, who goes to South Africa in the Kent, was born at Gresby, County Nottingham, England. He is now 34 years of age. Mr Mason served in the R.A.A from 1884 to 1891, when he transferred to the Medical Staff as compounder, and was promoted to his present rank and received the Queen’s Warrant in July, 1896.

He served in the Egyptian campaign of 1885 with the New South Wales Contingent, for which he received the medal with clap and the Khedive’s Star. Mr Mason is extremely popular throughout the service. He has made himself particularly so since he has had charge of the Garrison Hospital at Victoria Barracks.”

Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal  - The Daily Telegaphy Friday 4 October 1901 page 7 - The "Commonwealth Gazette notifies:--- Warrant-officer Edmund Percy Mason, of the New South Wales Army Medical Corps, has been awarded the silver medal for meritorious service.

The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 9 March 1904 page 5 - MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE.
His Excellency the Governor-General has approved of the award of medals for long service and good conduct to the. following officers: —
Warrant Officers Laurence Molloy (Instructional Staff) and William Edward Hartnett (R.A.A.): Sergeant Edward Conyers and Gunner Henry Man (R.A.A.), Warrant Officer Edmund Percy Mason, and  Lance-Sergeant James Dobson Rosa (A.A. Medical Corps).

Obituary –

Military Funeral, The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 29th of October 1914, Page 8

“A military funeral – the cortege moving from Victoria Barracks to Waverley – was yesterday accorded the remains of the late Captain E.P. Mason, captain and quartermaster of the Army Medical Corps, permanent section.

The deceased had a long and honourable service and was personally popular. He journeyed to the Soudan with the ’85 contingent, and received a medal and clasp and the Khedive’s Star. He served also in South Africa, operating in the Orange Free State (now the Orange River Colony), with actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Houtnek, and the Vet and Zand rivers, in the Transvaal he took part in actions at Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill and Belfast. He received the Queen’s Medal, with five clasps.

Deceased, who was 50 years of age, joined the artillery in 1883, and got his first commission in July 1906. He was made hon. Captain in July 1913.

Major T.J. Lynch represented the State Commandant at the funeral, which was attended by representatives of the permanent and expeditionary units. The band of the 43rd Infantry Battalion played Chopin’s “Death March”. The coffin was carried on a gun wagon, and covered with the Union Jack.”

Captain E. P. Mason died. He was a man who had had 31 years' service, had been through two campaigns, and was held in high respect by his comrades. But, he received his honorary commission from the ranks. He was to be buried with full military honors.  As a captain the firing party should have consisted of 100 men under a captain, but the firing party at the funeral of the man who had risen from the ranks consisted of only 25 men under a sergeant-major.