Studio portrait of 2663 Private (Pte) Edward Mason Spooner, 60th Battalion from West Brunswick, ...

Studio portrait of 2663 Private (Pte) Edward Mason Spooner, 60th Battalion from West Brunswick, Victoria. Claiming to be 44 years old at the time of enlistment on 12 June 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 8th Reinforcements of the 7th Battalion from Melbourne on 26 August 1915 aboard HMAT Anchises. After a period of illness in Egypt, he proceeded to England where he was briefly posted to the 58th Battalion and then to the 60th Battalion. While serving in France, he was wounded in action at the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 and evacuated to England for medical treatment. At the true age of 54 he died of his wounds 12 days later in hospital in England on 31 July 1916. Pte Spooner is buried in the Southend-on-Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery, Essex, England. His son, 3941 Pte James Edward Spooner was also in the 60th Battalion and was killed in action at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. [See image H06135] The following notice appeared in the Melbourne Age 31 July 1918: SPOONER. — In loving memory of my dearly beloved husband and father, Private Edward Mason Spooner, who died of wounds, 31st July, 1916, also my beloved eldest son and brother, Private James Edward Spooner, killed in action, 19th July, 1916. Father and son united.
Gone are the faces we loved so dear,
Silent the voices we long to hear;
A painful shock, a blow severe,
To part with the ones we love so dear.
— Inserted, by his loving wife, mother, and family, Mountfield-street, East Brunswick.H06136 and H06135