Edward Sydney Cawe

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 25/03/2015 - 14:00

First Name:

Edward

Middle Name:

Sydney

Last Name:

Cawe

Mother's Name:

Jessie Maria (nee Weekes)

Father's Name:

Edward Cawe

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, July 11, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

20th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, July 26, 1916

Place of Death:

Pozieres France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Private Edward Cawe (Service no: 2342) was born circa 1900 and claimed to be 18 years old, however, in reality he was just 14. He had served in the cadets.

Edward embarked on HMAT Ballarat A70 on 6th September 1915. He saw service on the Western Front with the Lewis gun section of D coy 20th Battalion. The battalion was involved in the horror of the Battle for Pozieres and on 26th July 1916 he was hit by a high explosive shell and killed. He was only 16 at the time.

Edward was buried on the battle field but later fighting destroyed his grave. He is commemorated on the Villers-Brettonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France as well as the Unanderra Public School Honour Roll.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CAWE E S