Arthur George EDMUNDSON

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EDMUNDSON, Arthur George

Service Number:	7794
Enlisted:	14 September 1915
Last Rank:	Lieutenant
Last Unit:	5th Field Artillery Brigade
Born:	Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 1894
Home Town:	Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales
Schooling:	Cleveland St SPS and Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Queensland, Australia, 1979, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Not yet discovered
Memorials:	Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour

World War 1 Service

14 Sep 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 7794, 5th Field Artillery Brigade
18 Nov 1915:	Involvement Gunner, 7794, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: ''
18 Nov 1915:	Embarked Gunner, 7794, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Sydney
11 Nov 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade

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Biography contributed by Sydney Technical High School

Biography for Arthur George Edmondson

Service number: 7794

GNR Arthur George Edmondson was born in 1894 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia.(1) Shortly after his birth, they moved to Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales.(2) He later attended many educational facilities such as Cleveland Street Public School and Sydney Technical High School.(3) Edmondson’s Father was also known to be the head of the Petersham Branch of The Government Savings Bank.(4) Edmondson’s mother likely stayed at home, possibly taking on domestic or manufacturing work, as was common during this time.(5)

When Edmondson left high school, he took the occupation of a clerk in The Government Savings Bank of NSW. The duties of a clerk included typing and sending documents, answering the phone and entering data.(6) He had also served in the 13th Battery Australian Field Artillery which was a Royal Australian Artillery formed in NSW during September 1915 before going on to serve in World War 1.(7) Edmondson also had a younger brother, Leslie John Edmondson, who enlisted on April 4, 1916 and had the occupation of a clerk. He also served in the 5th field artillery brigade but was ranked a driver during the war. He embarked on the HMAT A29 Suevic in Melbourne on June 21, 1917. (8)

Edmondson enlisted on the 14th of September 1915 and left for war two months later in November. Edmondson was a Gunner who had the role of using explosive shells to collapse trenches and lightly protected shelters. He participated in the 5th field artillery brigade, of which he was part of the brigade ammunition column which are people who transport ammunition from shell dumps behind the lines to gun positions.(9) Shortly after serving as a Gunner, he was promoted as a Lieutenant. He was also unfortunately gassed at The Battle of Passchendaele which took place in Ypres which was known for the appalling conditions such as the mud and unceasing rain, madness and senseless slaughter on the western front which accounted for 38000 Australian casualties.(10) On October 23,1917 he was evacuated to The United Kingdom due to Edmondson being gassed.

When Edmondson returned to Australia on the ship Balmoral Castle and disembarked in NSW on the 29th of March 1918. He then worked for the Commonwealth Bank as his father who was the head of Petersham Branch of Government Savings Bank had retired.(11) He was later discharged from the AIF on September 23, 1918.

He later married Irene Mary Duane in 1933. It was known from the source from the Sunday times Labor Daily that Edmondson was fined, “Arthur George Edmondson, 38, was fined 3 pounds in default six by Mr Laidlaw at the Central Police Court.” This happened due to him being charged with negligent driving. Edmondson also admitted he had whisky and he felt nervous when being stopped. (13)

Overall, GNR Arthur George Edmondson had an honorable life and military service despite nearly being killed in The Battle of Passchendaele. Before his death, he continued to play the role of a bank manager in the Commonwealth Government Savings bank in Petersham.(14) In 1977, Edmondson moved to Coorparoo, Queensland, where he passed away.(15)

References

1.vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Arthur George EDMUNDSON. [online]

2. Ibid

3. Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. Honour Board Project. Word Document 1

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. Ibid

7. vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Arthur George EDMUNDSON. [online]

8. Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. Honour Board Project. Word Document 1

9. Ibid

10. Roy, R.H. and Foot, R. (2018). Battle of Passchendaele | World War I [1917]. In: Encyclopedia Britannica.

11. 1918. Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. A welcome home display of flags and banners photo P08003.023.

12. Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). British First World War Service Medals. [online]

13. Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. Honour Board Project. Word Document 1

14. Ibid

15. Ibid

Bibliography

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
Jacaranda Retroactive Textbook 2 stage 5 NSW Australian Curriculum
nzhistory.govt.nz. (n.d.). New Zealand History | NZHistory, New Zealand history online.
Australian War Memorial (2016). Passchendaele | The Australian War Memorial.
1918. Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. A welcome home display of flags and banners photo P08003.023.
Roy, R.H. and Foot, R. (2018). Battle of Passchendaele | World War I [1917]. In: Encyclopedia Britannica.
Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). British First World War Service Medals. [online]
Arthur George Edmondson 1894-1979. Honour Board Project. Word Document 1
vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Arthur George EDMUNDSON. [online]