Herbert Hockin Edwards

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 12/06/2017 - 15:30

First Name:

Herbert

Middle Name:

Hockin

Last Name:

Edwards

Date of Birth:

Friday, May 5, 1899

Mother's Name:

Jane Edwards nee Hampton

Father's Name:

John Edwards

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, May 30, 1918

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Awards:

British War Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, October 9, 1950

Details:

Herbert Hockin Edwards (Service No 59737), was born in Berry, N.S.W.

At enlistment, he was single, 19 years old, worked as a labourer, lived in Kiama, N.S.W., and had served in the 37th Militia.

Herbert embarked on SS Galika, with the 14th NSW Reinforcement, on 30th July 1918. He arrived in England on 13th October 1918, and joined the Graves Registration Unit in France, on 1st April 1919. Herbert returned to Australia in September 1919, and was discharged on 2nd December 1919.

Herbert enlisted on 3rd June 1940, lowering his age by 5 years. He was posted to Malaya with 2/20th Battalion. In February 1942, Herbert was taken prisoner in Singapore, and sent to the Thai-Burma Railway. He survived captivity and was repatriated to Australia, where he was discharged medically unfit, on 20th August 1946. Herbert's WW2 documents list him as an indigenous soldier.

On 15th April 1922, Herbert married Ellen Stedman, and the couple had one child. They separated around 1926, but remained friends. Herbert was living with Ellen, in Redfern, N.S.W., when he died.

Herbert is commemorated for his service on the Kiama Memorial Arch and Honour Rolls.

Herbert's three brothers, John also known as Claude (Service No 5086), Lancelot (Service No 5087) and Alfred (Service 4534A), also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, EDWARDS H H