Edward Sydney Cawe

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: 
D
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