Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

Lieutenant Eric Edgerton, courtesy of Wesley

College Archives.

Edgerton E H D  Pte    1524A    Eric Henry Drummond            24 Inf Bn       18    Student    Single    Meth       

Address:    Elsternwick, Glen Eira Rd, “The Priory”   

Next of Kin:    Edgerton, Florrie, Mrs, Mother, “The Priory”, Glen Eira Rd, Elsternwick   

Enlisted:    14 Apr 1915       

Embarked:     A40 Ceramic 25 Jun 1915   

Born Moonee Ponds

Awards: DSO, M M and Bar

Born at Moonee Ponds in 1897. 

Relatives on Active Service:

Killingsworth-H-L--L-Cpl-498  cousin, Died of wounds as a prisoner of war.

YOUNG, Percy J, Pte     cousin   KIA

Date of Death:  11/08/1918   Lieutenant   24 Inf Bn

CWGC: "Son of James and Florence Grace Edgerton, of The Priory, Glen Eira Rd., Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia".

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY

Ville-sur-Ancre, Somme, Picardie, 19 May 1918. The final objective captured by Lieutenant E.H.D.

Edgerton, and party of the 24th Battalion. Owing to the marshy nature of the country the final

objective had to be chosen on the outskirts of the village, in the position shown, and it

was successfully reached after the village had been captured by men of the 24th and 25th

Battalions. At a post near where the figure is lying, Lt Edgerton and party captured two

machine guns and killed their crews.  Australian War Memorial Collection.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/E02478

Wesley College Chronicle, 1919 p 30.  Courtesy of

Wesley College Archives.

3DRL/6582  AWM:  Person records of Lt E H D Edgerton.  Photocopies of certificates, citations, letters from England and France while on Active Service, letters regarding death, photos of family members and his grave.  Dates 1910-1919.

1DRL/0257.  Collection relating to the service of Lieutenant Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton, MM, DSO, 24 Battalion, Gallipoli, Egypt and France, 5 January 1915 - 11 August 1918. Collection consists of a typewritten copy of diary kept by Lieutenant Edgerton Gallipoli, 1915-1918. Copy made 1928 by Australian War Memorial. Location of original unknown.

Mentioned in this publication:

Edgerton.pdf   Reveille, 1 May 1938 - Courtesy of Wesley College Archives.

Australian Dictionary of Biography

War Service Commemorated

Ascot Vale State School (E C)

Moonee Ponds West State School*

Moonee Ponds Methodist Church

Wesley College Roll of Honour

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours

Middle black cross: Lieut Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton,

24th Battalion, of Elsternwick, Vic.   In December 1918

Edgerton received the DSO for leading his platoon during

an attack on Ville-Sur-Ancre in May 1918.  He was killed

in action on 11 August 1918 near Framvillers, France. 

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P03668.011

Lieutenant Edgerton's memorial stone at the Villers-Brettoneux  Military Cemetery.

Courtesy of Phillip Powell.

In Memoriam

EDGERTON.-A tribute of sincere affection to the
memory of Lieutenant Eric Henry Drumond Edgerton,
D.S.O., M.M. and bar, 24th Battalion, who made the
supreme sacrifice August 11, 1918.
A brave hero.
-(Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Edgerton, Moonee Ponds.)

EDGERTON -A tribute to the memory of Lieut
Eric H D Edgerton, DSO, MM, and bar, killed
in action, in France, on 12th August, after three
years' active service. (Inserted on behalf of the
members of the Elwood Life Saving Club).
Family Notices. (1918, August 29). The Argus, p. 1.
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1401824

EDGERTON - KILLINGSWORTH - YOUNG.-In
loving remembrance of our dear son, Lieutenant Eric
H. D. Edgerton, D.S.O., M.M., and Bar, 24th Battalion,
killed in action in France, August 11, 1918, aged 21
years; also our loved nephew, Lieutenant, Harry L
Killingsworth, 38th Battalion, M.G. Section, wounded
and died a prisoner of war, May 28, 1917; also our
dear nephew, Private Percy J. Young, 6th Reinforcements,
8th Battalion, killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli,
August 6, 1915.
Heroes all!
And so our home shall see them never more!
And only tender memories remain;
And loving pride that takes the sting from pain,
Making them dearer than they were before.
And nearer, for they breathe a quickening
breath
Of inspiration into every soul
That enters here, and point us to a goal
That they have won, beyond the reach of
Death. 
-(The Priory, Glen Eira road, Elsternwick.)

EDGERTON - In loving memory of our dear
nephew Lieut Eric Henry Drummond Edger-      
ton, D S O , MM, and Bar, who was killed in
action, in France on August 11, 1918, aged
21 years, after three and a quarter years'
active service.
The hero boy that dies in blooming years,
in man's regret he lives and woman's tears;    
More sacred than in life, and lovelier far.
For having perished in the front of war. 
-(Inserted by his loving aunt uncle, and
cousins, Mr and Mrs Fred H Edgerton
and   family, "Smethwick" Ascotvale .)

Family Notices. (1919, August 11). The Argus, p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4706749