WATERS, Edward Daniel
| Service Number: | 6366 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Naracoorte , 1888 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Southern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Hamilton, Victoria , 30 October 1967, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Hamilton Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Hamilton Borough of Hamilton Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 6366, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 6366, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Jamestown Community School
Edward Daniel Waters was born in 1888 to his parents, Mark Waters and Mrs Martha Waters, in Naracoorte, South Australia. Edward Waters was one of 9 children in the family, being one of the middle children. Going to school in Edenhope, Victoria, swimming across the lake each morning to get to school, Edward or ‘Dan’ was quiet and offered little conversation to others around him. Before enlisting in the war, Edward worked as a labourer and shearer in the Harrow district of Victoria (Joan Brown, 2024).
On 11 May 1916, Edward Daniel Waters applied to join the A.I.F. with two of his brothers in Hamilton, Victoria, at 28 Years 4 months old. The attestation papers were completed on 11 May. However, the official signing of the oath happened on 15 May 1916. Two of the three brothers succeeded in the A.I.F., Edward being one of them, another brother was discharged for having flat feet. Edward was selected into the 20/6 Infantry Battalion, Service NO. 6366 (National Archives of Australia 2015).
The 6th Battalion had previously served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front collectively over the time of the First World War (1914 – 1918); the 6th Battalion had served at the Battle of Amiens, the Battle of Lone Pine, the Battle of Menin Road, the German Springs Offensive, The landing at ANZAC cove, and Versailles Peace Treaty. The 6th Battalion formed the 2nd Brigade with the 5th, 7th, and 8th Battalions (6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project - 2023) (Australian War Memorial 2024a) (Virtual War Memorial 2024).
On the 15th of June, training commenced in Ballarat, Victoria, then transferred to Broadmeadows, Victoria, a month later on the 1 July 1916, as stated on service record documents. It wasn’t until August 11, 1916, that Edward Waters embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Euripides Plymouth, England (Australian War Memorial 2024a) (National Archives of Australia 2015).
The HMAT Euripides was a transport ship used in the First and Second World Wars. Designed to carry 136 officers, over 2200 other ranks, and 20 horses, the HMAT Euripides carried the Australian Imperial Force and other reinforcements to battalions that were battling and serving in Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Western Front. After retirement in 1954, the HMAT Euripides was dismantled (Australian War Memorial 2024c).
On 26 October, the HMAT Euripides landed in Plymouth, Europe. On 30 October 1916, at Guedecourt, it was said in Unit diaries that ‘enemy’s shelling was not heavy – practically none at all on front line.’ The 6th battalion marched into 2nd Y.B. from an un-transcribed place. In the following days, the unit diaries state that rainfall continued from previous days and that much work had been achieved in the trenches (Australian War Memorial 2024c) (National Archives of Australia 2015).
The following year, on 15 February 1917, Edward Waters was posted overseas to France per SS Victoria via Folkestone, England. He was taken on strength to reinforce the 6th Battalion 2nd April 1917. 6th Battalion unit diaries describe maintenance work completed on trenches and enemy engagement during this time. During this time, the 6th Battalion was stationed in various trenches, performing standard maintenance work. The 6th Battalion also endured many significant battles, including the battle of Langemarck, the battle of Pilkem Ridge, the battle of Menin Road Ridge, the second Battle of Passchendaele, and the battle of Polygon Wood (Australian War Memorial 2024c) (National Archives of Australia 2015).
On 2 May 1918, a change in next of kin was accepted for Edward Daniel Waters. Edwards's original next of kin was his father, Mark Waters; however, Edwards's father could not be located, causing his mother, Martha Waters, to become his next of kin (National Archives of Australia 2015).
Edward Waters returned to Australia arriving at the docks of Port Darwin 27th July 1919, transported by the SS. Somali,
Edward Daniel Waters was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force 16th September 1919 .
After serving in the First World War, Edward Daniel Waters suffered severely from what was known as shell shock, more commonly known as Post post-traumatic stress. Edward returned to live with his sister, Mrs John Finn Hamilton, Victoria, and never proceeded to have children or get married. Edward always enjoyed a beer with his mates at the pub and was secluded in living a quiet life in a nursing home following Mrs Finn's death in 1960. Seven years later, in 1967, Edward Daniel Waters died on 30 October and now lies in the Hamilton Public Cemetery, Victoria (Joan Brown).