Edward Walter Tatam
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1892 |
| Place of Birth | Bendigo, Victoria |
| Death | 30 Oct 1973, aged 81 |
| Place of Death | South Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 Years, 11 months |
| Description |
6'0½" (1.m) tall ; 152 lbs 68.946 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Mill hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | NOK 380 Bulwer street, West Perth, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Anne Tatam |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4559 |
| Date of Enlistment | 1 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 31 Mar 1916 ‒ 24 Apr 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A9 Shropshire |
| Date of Return | 11 Jan 1919 ‒ 16 Feb 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Osterley |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals | British War Medal |
Pre War
Electoral roll entries 1916 - 1917 Nanga Brook, labourer. At the time he enlisted, Edward was living in Jardadup near Pemberton, so we might presume that he would have previously worked in the Jarrahdale area and was known there.
War Service
A fortnight after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Edward was allocated to the 11th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, travelling with them to Egypt.
In Alexandria on 2 Jun 1916 he boarded HMT Minnetonka for Plymouth, disembarking on 12 Jun 1916. From there he was sent to Perham Downs before being transferred to the Warchest Club, Anzac Hotel in London on 9 Aug 1916. Transferred on paper back to the 28th Battalion on 24 Apr 1918, he was sent to No 1 Command Depot.
At the Command Depot he was assessed as unfit to perform further service, but fit to travel back to Australia on a non hospital ship, and was granted leave until embarkation. Returned to Australia earlier than might normally happen in order to accompany his wife Hilda Marie (nee Barnard) who had a booked passage on the SS Osterley from Liverpool. They had married on 8 Oct 1918 in Islington, England.
Back in Australia he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle on 17 Feb 1919 for a week for monitoring of his hernia.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 at 28 Waugh street Balkatta, cooper; 1931 - 1972 at 2 Westbury road, South Perth.
On 13 Apr 1960 Tatam, flew from Singapore to Perth via Djakarta on Qantas flight number EM 548/023
Hilda Marie died 15 Oct 1976, aged 82 in Subiaco.
Notes
Was not awarded the Victory Medal as he did not enter a theatre of war before 11 Nov 1918.
RSL Memorial has listed Edward as Taram, rather than Tatam