Edwin Lawrence Reed

Edwin Lawrence Reed

Western Mail 23 Feb 1917 page 29
Ancestry.com.au
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1891
Place of Birth	Warracknabeal, Victoria
Death	7 May 1965, aged 73
Place of Death	Corrigin, Western AUstralia
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 4 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 138lbs 62.596 kg ; fresh complexion ; light hazel eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	Brookton Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Reed (Gosnells)
Military Information
Reg Number	7296
Date of Enlistment	6 Nov 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 24th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	21 Jun 1919 ‒ 2 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Königin Luise
Fate	WIA 26 Sep 1917 Polygon Wood WIA 31 May 1915 Villers-Bretonneux area Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry: 913 - 1916 Brookton, farm labourer

War Service

Edwin entered Blackboy Hill camp on 6 Nov 1916 and on 6 Dec 1916 he was allocated to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. However, he was later reallocated to the 24th reinforcement draft, and he travelled to England with that group. During the voyage he was briefly admitted to the ship's hospital with an infection. On arrival in England he was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford, and having completed the training he was sent overseas to France via Southampton on 9 Jul 1917. He was taken on strength by the 16th Battalion on 27 Jul 1917 where they were near Ploegsteert in reserve.

On 26 Sep 1917 the 16th Battalion were tasked with securing the first of two objectives in a battle known as Polygon Wood. The attack was very successful, with light casualties. However, they later suffered casualties from snipers and artillery bombardment as they dug in at their objective . At some point during this time Edwin was wounded with shell wounds to both arms, requiring him to spend time in a series of convalescent depots and Base Depots in France until he rejoined the battalion on 26 Nov 1917.

Edwin was granted leave from 20 Mar 1918 until he rejoined his battalion on 11 Apr 1918. In the evening of 31 May 1918 the 16th Battalion moved back into the front line outside Villers-Bretonneux, relieving the 56th Battalion. During the relief the enemy took the opportunity to shell the Australian lines, with only one casualty resulting - Edwin who had received a shell wound to his right forearm. Treated by the 14th Field Ambulance, he was passed on to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station where he remained from 1 - 6 Jun 1918. On 13 Jun 1918 Edwin had rejoined the 16th Battalion. Granted leave on 9 Nov 1918 he was in England when the Armistice was declared, but returned to France to rejoin his battalion on 23 Nov 1918.

On 5 Mar 1919 Edwin was attached to the 14th Veterinary Hospital for a course in agriculture and animal husbandry, but on 3 Apr 1919 this was completed when he went on leave in England from 5 Apr until 19 Apr 1919. At the conclusion of his leave he was hospitalised in the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford where he remained for a total of 42 days treatment for Venereal Disease. On his return to Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 9 Oct 1919.

Post War

Married Ethel Amy Mills in Perth during 1922. Ethel died 15 Jun 1974 aged 81. They had at least one son Ron.

Electoral Roll entries: 1922 Dumbleyung, farmer; 1925 Gnerkadilling, farm labourer; 1931 - 1963 Bilbarin, farmer;