The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1934) Private Joseph Thomas Edwards, 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on, (1934) Private Joseph Thomas Edwards, 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1934 Private Joseph Thomas Edwards, 11th Battalion, AIF
KIA 1 August 1915
Story delivered 24 October 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Joseph Thomas Edwards.

Joseph Edwards, known as “Tom”, was born in Broken Hill in 1895 to Joseph and Emily Edwards. By the age of five he was living in Coolgardie, Western Australia. He was probably educated locally, and went on to work as a stockman in the district.

Edwards enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in February 1915 and was posted to the 11th Battalion with a number of other men from the Coolgardie district. He underwent a period of training in Australia which was continued when he arrived in Egypt. From there he was sent to the Gallipoli peninsula, where he arrived on 16 May 1915, just three months and one day after he had enlisted.

On the evening of 31 July 1915, the 11th Battalion prepared to conduct an attack on Turkish positions as a preliminary operation of the August Offensive. In the early hours of 1 August, the signal to launch the attack came as three mines were blown up under Turkish positions. The mines did little to deter Turkish rifles and machine-gunners, however, and the Australians came under heavy fire almost as soon as they left their trench.

Private Edwards was paired up with Private Jack Davies for the attack. Jack, also from Coolgardie, later wrote to his mother to tell her what happened:
When we got the order to charge out of our trench, we climbed together and rushed the Turks’ trench, but my poor little mate hadn’t gone many yards with me when I missed him. It was a hot place just there about that time, I can tell you, the bullets spitting all around and shrapnel bursting thickly, and, of course, I hadn’t the time to look for him just then, but I recognised him soon after. His end must have been very sudden, as the bullet passed through a vital spot.

Private Jack Davies buried his mate the following day, alongside others killed in the same action. He wrote to Tom’s parents to say, “I felt the loss of poor old Tom, and, coming as he did from the same little town as myself, made the feeling a very sad one. However, I am very proud to think that he came from Coolgardie, for a braver [man] than he never faced such a deadly fire as that was … it is a fine thing to know that your son Tom died a hero.”

Tom Edwards is buried in Shell Green Cemetery on Gallipoli. He was 19 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Joseph Thomas Edwards, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section