HAMER, Edward Arthur
| Service Number: | 2914 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, 1879 |
| Home Town: | Springwood, Blue Mountains Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers School, Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Produce Traveller |
| Died: | Bronchitis, Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, 4 February 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Barford St. Martin Church Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Springwood District Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2914, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2914, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Sydney |
Help us honour Edward Arthur Hamer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Edward Arthur Hamer was born at Grafton, NSW in 1879 to parents Arthur John & Caroline Hamer (nee Parker).
He married Mary Ada Marr in 1905. Their marriage was registered in the district of Petersham, NSW.
Births were registered for the following children with parents Edward A. & Mary A. Hamer:
· William C. A. Hamer – Birth registered in 1906 in the district of Petersham, NSW.
· Richard Hamer – Birth registered in 1907 in the district of Kogarah, NSW.
· Kathleen M. Hamer – Birth registered in 1909 in the district of Kogarah, NSW.
· Keith Hamer – Birth registered in 1912 in the district of Marrickville, NSW.
· Jessie Hamer – Birth registered in 1913 in the district of Marrickville, NSW.
He enlisted in the Australia Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 4th September, 1914 as a 33 year old, married, Produce Traveller from Springwood, NSW. He had served 6 months with NSW Lancers & resigned.
Private Edward Arthur Hamer was discharged from the Army by the Camp Commandant at Broadmeadows, Melbourne on 8th November, 1914. He had been attached to D.A.C. Depot. The reason stated being that he was “unlikely to become an efficient soldier”.
Information contained in Edward Hamer’s Service Record file stated that he gained employment at Goulburn, NSW after his discharge.
On 23rd June, 1916 Edward Arthur Hamer re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) at Goulburn, NSW as a 36 year old, single, Commercial Traveller from Springwood, NSW but under the name of “Arthur Edward Haymer.”
[According to information written in a letter to Base Records, Melbourne in February, 1917, by Mrs Hamer’s brother–in-law – Mr A. W. Hinwood, Mrs Hamer was “unaware of the fact that Mr Hamer had joined the forces”. At the time of the letter, Mrs Hamer was residing at the farm of her sister & her brother –in-law at Byron Bay, NSW.]
Private Haymer, Service number 2914, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 25th October, 1916 with the 55th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 28th December, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was admitted to Fovant Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 18th January, 1917 with Bronchitis.
Private Arthur Edward Haymer died at 1 pm on 4th February, 1917 at Military Hospital, Fovant, England from Bronchitis.
He was buried Barford St. Martin Cemetery, Wiltshire and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. His name is recorded on the headstone as Private E. A. Hamer.
Base Records were advised in February, 1917 that Private “Arthur Edward Haymer” was in fact Edward Arthur Hamer who had a widow & 5 children, ranging in age from 10 years to 4 years.
In January, 1922, Mary Ada Hamer, of Augusta Street, Kogarah, made a claim any War Medals & Decorations awarded to her late Husband – Private Hamer, 2914, 55th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/barford.html
Click images to start slideshow.