Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Under-age soldier and the Hell of Passchendaele

Young Edgar Mattinson Clements had been a farm labourer and member of the Senior Cadets when WWI broke out. His immediate reaction was to enlist in November of 1916, stating that he was 18 years old. Not unexpectedly, the young Edgar attracted quite a harsh punishment of 14 days for laughing and chatting when the squad was called to Attention while on Parade – and this before heading over to France with the 48th Battalion! He served with both the 12th Machine Gun Company and his own 48th Battalion in the fierce fighting in France. He fought with the 48th Battalion at Passchendale in 1917 and probaly as a result of shellshock was then detached to the Australian Corps Gas school. However, in France, 1918, as a reaction to the conditions under which he fought at Passchendaele, the truth emerged that he had only just turned 16 when he enlisted. This then attracted official paper work, including a personal declaration of his true age and also formal approval from his parents, which was given by his father, Clements in a beautifully hand-written letter stating that Edgar “has my consent to enlist for active Service he being under 21 years of age”. These two horrific years were to have a lasting and unpleasant effect on the remainder of his life and sadly, also on his family. See newspaper links to the left of this page 

 Edgar was eventually invalided home on the ‘Berrima’, having been evacuated from the fighting and discharged on the 19th March 1919. His first child, Raymond was born in Largs Bay just prior to Christmas, on the 13th December 1919. (Raymond was later to also serve in WWII). Edgar and Helena married soon after on the 26th January 1920. The young couple subsequently had four other children, Ron, Edgar, Rita and June. For his service, Edgar was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1814/15 Star.

Distressingly, life seemed to spiral out of control for Edgar who was becoming an alcoholic but had work on the wharves. By the time his first child, Ray had just turned four, 24-year-old Edgar attempted suicide by drinking hydrochloric acid. He was admitted to the Port Adelaide Casualty Hospital before being transferred to the Adelaide Hospital. Local papers suggested that, having been just 16 when he enlisted, he at times suffered from the effects of shell shock. Charged with attempted suicide, Edgar fronted Court where Helena described the evening Edgar “came home about 6.20 p.m. under the influence of liquor. She said to him, "Have your tea." He sat at the table but did not eat the food. She saw him fall on the floor and she ran to Mrs. Bemold in Walker street, Birkenhead, for assistance. When they returned to the home, defendant went out. He returned about 8.30 p.m. and asked for a candle, a piece of paper and a pencil. Later defendant produced a bootmaker’s knife and said, "I will cut your lungs out." Mr. Bemold then took the knife away from him. She heard defendant say, "Bemold; spirits of salts," and he then fell back on to the floor. Witness sent for the police. The note produced was in the hand writing of defendant and she found it in the bedroom.”

This neighbour, Cyril Bemold, also a labourer was asked by Edgar to take care of Helena and the children as he was “going away” and that Cyril could “bury me six feet under the ground in the morning. I will do it." Cyril remained level headed, removing the knife from Edgar and making him drink salted water as an emetic. Edgar’s distressed father, Clements explained that Edgar “had been a good lad and enlisted at the age of 16 ½ years. He had gone through a terrible time and was gassed.” Edgar was released with a bond of £20 to be of good behavior for six months. The shell shock and alcoholism issues were not addressed (or at that time, the severity understood) apart from telling Edgar to keep away from the drink.

Three years later in January 1927, while unloading the mail steamer ‘Ormuz’, at Outer Harbour in the early morning, Edgar was struck on the side of his face by a sling-sheet of iron weighing half a ton being loaded from a truck. He was knocked unconscious and subsequently taken to the Adelaide Hospital with injuries to the muscles of his neck.

With five young children under ten, and the youngest having just turned one, Helena took Edgar to court in 1930, claiming he had ‘left her and five children without adequate means of support at Queenstown, and that he was habitually intemperate in drinking intoxicating liquors, and at times dangerous to others.’ She explained that Edgar only had odd days of work and when he did, the money was spent on alcohol. “The most he earned bring 30/- in a week. He continually came home drunk, and was mad when under the influence of liquor.” She asked for a separation, and maintenance for herself and the children. An order for separation, with the custody of the children, was granted, and Edgar was ordered to contribute £1 per week for his wife's maintenance, and 5/- for each child.

Edgar unsuccessfully turned to petty thievery of timber, with the second occasion resulting in two months imprisonment but continued to acquire wood which he then sold. Fines and imprisonment were the usual punishments. By the mid 30’s Edgar was appearing in Court for being unlawfully drunk and in one instance while in custody with ‘wilfully and maliciously damaged a backet to the extent of 6 /6. the property of the South Australian Government.’ Edgar then fell behind with his rent for his War Service Home with the arrears amounted to £331/10. Being drunk and disorderly, using offensive language and abusing his wife and family became regular features of Edgar’s life. He also quarrelled with fellow pensioners when drunk, but once sober, repaired that friendship which involved a hefty hit to the head with a saucepan, and the charge being withdrawn.

By February 1940 Edgar again attempted suicide by poisoning. Later that year in July, his oldest son, Ray enlisted to serve in WWII, coincidentally being allocated to the 2/48th Battalion; Edgar had served in the 1/48th Battalion. Pride in his son’s patriotism was mixed with the now ingrained alcoholism. Ray returned home incapacitated in 1942, which also mirrored Edgar’s service in WWI. Edgar had a brief foray to Mt Gambier where again he was arrested for being drunk, this time in the Civic Hall where Taxation Officers were working. Edgar’s drinking affected his family, causing distressing arguments with the children, now adults, who had little residual tolerance for his behaviour. His daughter’s frustration boiled over in 1948 following a dispute at their home, which continued outside on the verandah, and eventually onto the footpath where a crowd quickly gathered. In absolute frustration 20-year-old June threatening to hit Edgar with a brick she had in her hand when Constable Stewart intervened, arresting Edgar for disorderly behaviour. Yet another fine eventuated.

Aged 59 Edgar died in July of 1959. The young boy who was so ready to fight for his country had been irreversibly affected by that decision for the rest of his life. His service is remembered at the West Terrace Cemetery. Helena out-lived her husband to be 93 years old when she died on the 23rd June 1996. Her remains are at Centennial Park.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.