Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Arthur Leslie Edson led a good life. From when he was a very young boy, he was immensely nourished by his loving parents. He was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales on the 30th of November in 1896 but later moved and grew up in his childhood hometown of Port Victoria, South Australia. [1] Edson had a brother named Private Clarence Roy and a sister named Laura Elizabeth Olive, after their mother. They were raised by their parents, John Edson and Laura Elizabeth Edson, in the town of Port Victoria where they all grew up. [2] Later, due to unknown circumstances, their mother passed away and their father remarried another woman named Minnie.[3] Together they had another child named Albert Bamblett who enlisted along with Arthur and Clarence.[4] Edson’s occupation before recruiting into the Australian Military was a local plumber.[5] Via his job, Edson earned enough money to fully fund and sustain himself after his schooling, there in which he attended a State School. Before enlisting into the Military, Private Arthur Leslie Edson was a cadet along with his brothers Private Clarence Roy and Albert.

[6]Before the age of 19, Edson and his brothers would discuss joining the war and being on the battlefield. His brother’s decisions to join the Australian Military majorly affected his own. During the service of Private Arthur Leslie Edson, he was transferred many times and into many different troops, but the terminating location of where he last fought was in France. When he was just 19 years of age, Edson enlisted into the 70th Battalion Australian Imperial Force on the 13th of September in 1915. One month later, on October 1st, 1915, he was relocated to the 10th  Battalion, a further month was spent there until he was moved again on the 16th of November to the 14th Reinforcement. Three months after, Edson embarked on the HMAT Miltiades from Adelaide, Australia on February 7th, 1916 and disembarked to Suez on the 1st of March in 1916, spending around a month on ship to reach the destination. To join the British Expeditionary Force, on the 29th day of May in 1916 he embarked the HT Tunisian to Alexandria and marched with his battalion on the 7th of June to the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot in Étaples, France. [7]

On the 26th of July, Edson joined the 10th Battalion and travelled to Berteaucourt for training with his unit. Thereafter, along with the 10th Battalion, on the 19th of August, Edson journeyed to assist in the front line with the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Brigade. Then on the 12th of November 1916, he was admitted into the 12th General Hospital in Rouen due to trench feet and was transported to England on the 14th, as he was deemed unfit to serve from the disease. From there, Edson was moved to many hospitals, beginning with the Beaufort War Hospital on the 15th of November, then the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 3rd of January 1917 and discharged on the same day. After a [8] period of time, on the 11th of January in the same year, he was transported to the 4th Command Depot in Wareham. [9]

On the 23rd of March 1917, a few months after his hospital release, he was referred to the 70th Battalion. Instantaneously, after Edson was sent to the 70th Battalion to serve, he was hospitalised for mumps on the 27th of April 1917 at the Wareham Military Hospital and sent into immediate isolation. Then on May 16th, 1917, he was discharged from the hospital and returned to the 70th Battalion on the same day located in Windmill Hill. Further into the year on the 9th day of October, the 10th Battalion was transported overseas to France and on the 10th travelled to the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot in Le Havre. On the 30th of December in 1917, the Australian Field Ambulance admitted Edson into the Australian Casualty Clearing Station by the cause of the infectious trench feet once more. From there, Private Arthur Leslie Edson was transferred to several more hospitals to recover. On the 31st of December, he was taken by the 22nd Ambulance Train to the Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne. Then on February 1st in 1918, Edson was transported to the Red Cross Hospital in England and several weeks later being moved to the Australian Auxiliary Hospital on the 23rd of February. [10]

Edson was finally able to be released on the 30th of March in 1918 and travelled to the 4th Command Depot on the same day. On the following 28h of May, he journeyed to the Overseas Training Brigade in Longbridge Deverill where he began intense training. After it was completed, on the 19th of June, Edson proceeded to Le Havre, France and reached the destination on the 21st. When he arrived, he re-joined the 10th Battalion at the Australian Intermediate Base Depot. Sadly, shortly after returning to his battalion, Private Arthur Leslie Edson was killed in action on the 4th day of July in 1918 during the Battle of Merris. [11]

Private Arthur Leslie Edson is buried in Plot 1, Row C, and Grave 19 at the Borre British Cemetery. Edson served for a total of 1028 days before he passed and is commemorated at the Adelaide National War Memorial and in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. [12]  Private Edson was awarded for Service During The 1st World War 1914-1918, the British War Medal for immense sacrifice during the First World War and the Victory Medal that was issued to those with 1914-1915 Star or the British War Medal. [13]

After hearing the news of losing three of their sons, John and Minnie Edson retired to Waikerie not too long after the war had ended and lived the rest of their lives there. [14]

[1] Evening falls at Port Victoria, in South Australia on February 14, 2011, 2018, accessed 2 June 2018, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-09/evening-falls-at-port-victoria-in-south-australia/2663568>.

[2] RSL Virtual War Memorial 2018, accessed 2 June 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/229332>.

[3] The AIF Project, Arthur Leslie EDSON 2018, accessed 2 June 2018, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=88658>.

[4] World War I Pictorial Honour Roll of South Australians 2018, accessed 3 June 2018, <http://ww1sa.gravesecrets.net/ea---ek.html>.

[5] RSL Virtual War Memorial 2018, accessed 4 June 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/229332>.

[6] HMAT "Miltiades" troopship that took Private Plush to England WW1 1917, 2018, accessed 4 June 2018, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1723148https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Plush-24>.

[7] The AIF Project, Arthur Leslie EDSON 2018, accessed 4 June 2018, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=88658>.

[8] Roll of Honour, Arthur Leslie Edson 2018, accessed 4 June 2018,<https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1723148>.

[9] The AIF Project, Arthur Leslie EDSON 2018, accessed 5 June 2018, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=88658>.

[10] RSL Virtual War Memorial 2018, accessed 5 June 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/229332>.

[11] The AIF Project, Arthur Leslie EDSON 2018, accessed 5 June 2018, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=88658>.

[12] Arthur Leslie Edson 2018, accessed 6 June 2018 <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1723148>.

[13] RSL Virtual War Memorial 2018, accessed 6 June 2018, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/229332>.

[14] World War I Pictorial Honour Roll of South Australians 2018, accessed 6 June 2018, <http://ww1sa.gravesecrets.net/ea---ek.html>.

Arthur's step-brother was SN 1967 Pte Albert Harold Bamblett (/explore/people/137177), 32nd BTN died of wounds on 17 April 1917 

Private Arthur Leslie Edson enlisted into the 70th Battalion Australian Imperial Force at 2nd Depot Battalion, Adelaide SA on the 13th day of September 1915. He was transferred to 1st Depot Battalion on the 1st day of October 1915 and then to the 10th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement on the 16th day of November 1915. 

On the 7th day of February 1916 he embarked Adelaide, Australia on the “HMAT Miltiades” and disembarked at Suez on the 1st day of March 1916. He embarked on the “HT Tunisian” for Alexandria on the 29th day of May 1916, disembarking on the 7th day of June at Estaples. He proceeded out to the 10th Battalion on the 26th day of July 1916, joining his unit on the 30th day of July at Berteaucourt for training. The 10th Battalion marched through Bonneville, Toutencourt,  Vaidincourt and sausage valley to relieved the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Brigade on the front line on the 19th day of August 1916. 

On the 1st day of September the 10th Battalion was relieved and marched to Kendra Camp for retraining. They proceeded to Chateau Belge on the 13th day off September 1916 and Hill 60, Ypres. They were relieved on the 1st day of October for further training at Brandhok and moved out to Pont Reny on the 20th day of October for fatigue duties. They were assign road making at Bernafay Wood on the 30th day of October and entered the front line again at Guedecourt on the 6th day of November 1916.

Private Edson was admitted to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance on the 11th day of November 1916 with Trench Foot and transferred to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France. On the 14th day of November 1916 he embarked at Havre on the “HS Asturias”, disembarking England the following day and admitted to the Beaufort Hospital, Bristol, England.

On the 20th day of November he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford and discharged to Wenham Camp, Dorset with Trench Feet on the 3rd day of January 1917. He transferred to the 70th Battalion from 10th Battalion on the 23rd day of March and became sick with the mumps on the 27th day of April 1917, transferred to the 16th Field Ambulance, Wareham, England and admitted to a Military Isolation Hospital.  

Private Edson was discharged on the 16th day of May 1917 to the 70th Battalion and transferred to the 10th Battalion on the 19th day of September 1917 in England and marched on to the 69th Draft Battalion. He embarked at Southampton, England on the 9th day of October and disembarked at Havre, France the following day where he marched out to his unit on the 13th day of October 1917 and was taken on strength on the 16th day of October at the Deminion Lines.

The 10th Battalion relieved the 11th Battalion at Westhawk Ridge on the 31st day of October 1917 and marched to Halifax Camp on the 9th day of November. On the 16th day of December they relieved the 31st Battalion in the front line at Caestre. Private Edson was admitted to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance with Trench Foot on the 30th day of December 1917, transferred to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station then onto the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on the 31st day of December.

He embarked for England on the 1st day of January 1918 on the hospital ship “Jan Breydel” and admitted to the Saffron Weldon Red Cross Hospital, Colchester, England and transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on the 23rd day of February 1918. He was discharged on leave on the 15th day of March until the 30th day of March and marched in to the O/S.T Brigade, L Deverill on the 28th day of May 1918.

On the 19th day of June 1918 he embarked England and disembarked at Havre, France on the 21st day of June and proceeded to his unit on the 23rd day of June 1918. He re joined the 10th Battalion at Merris on the 26th day of June and took part in the Battle of Merris on the 28th day of June 1918 where the 10th Battalion attacked the enemy line.

Private Edson was killed in action on the 4th day of July 1918 by shell fire in the Merris Sector, France after very heavy enemy barrage to raid no 1 & 2 posts

Private Arthur Leslie Edson is burried at Borre British Cemetery, east of Haxebrouck. Plot 1, Row C, Grave 19

He served for:              Total effective period of             1028 days

                                   Active service in Australia          148 days

                                   Active service overseas              880 days         

AWARDED FOR SERVICE DURING THE 1st WORLD WAR 1914-1918

British War Medal - Awarded in recognition of the immense sacrifice during the First World War

Victory Medal - Issued to all those with either the 1914-1915 Star or British War Medal or both