Gordon James Edwards

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 13/10/2015 - 11:33

First Name:

Gordon

Middle Name:

James

Last Name:

Edwards

Date of Birth:

Saturday, August 8, 1896

Mother's Name:

Rebecca Edwards nee Johnston

Father's Name:

James Edwards

Date Enlisted:

Monday, August 2, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

13th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, May 1, 1918

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Wounds incurred in action

Details:

Gordon Edwards (Service No 6011) was born in Thirroul, N.S.W. and attended Thirroul Public School.

The family moved to Dorrigo, N.S.W. and Gordon enlisted in Armidale, N.S.W. but was sent to camp at Kiama on the South Coast of N.S.W.

Gordon was 19 years old, single, and worked as a farm hand when he enlisted.

He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire with 19th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion on 22nd August 1916. The troops arrived in England on 15th October 1916, and after training Gordon was sent on to France where he joined up with the Battalion on 6th March 1917. In June he attended a Lewis Gun School and received official recognition for his work while at the course.

On 29th July 1917 Gordon was admitted to hospital sick in Belgium, rejoining his unit in France on 24th October 1917.

The 13th Battalion was heavily involved in some of the worst fighting on the Western Front, and on 1st April 1918, Gordon was wounded at Villers-Bretonneux. He was evacuated to 22nd General Hospital in France for treatment of gun shot wounds to his side, chest and face. Seriously wounded, he finally lost his battle, and at 11am on 1st May 1918 he died from his wounds.

Gordon is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France: Plot LXV, Row A, Grave 1.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, EDWARDS G J