The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (6263) Private Andrew Edwards, 8th 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (6263) Private Andrew Edwards, 8th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

6263 Private Andrew Edwards, 8th Battalion, AIF
DOW 21 September 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 2 July 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Andrew Edwards.

Andrew Edwards was the eldest son of John and Margaret Edwards of Spittal, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. He attended the local national school and became a coachman. He came to Australia at around 31 years of age and found employment at Stockyard Hill, near Ballarat in Victoria, where he quickly became a popular member of the local community.

Edwards enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1916, and was posted to the 8th Battalion. After a period of training in Australia he was sent to England, arriving in Plymouth in October 1916. Two months later he was in France to fight on the Western Front.

The 8th Battalion spent the harsh winter of 1916–17 rotating in and out of the front line. Private Edwards spent a month in hospital with sickness in February 1917, but otherwise remained with his battalion. In the spring of 1917 the 8th Battalion participated in the operations that followed up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line before returning to Belgium to join the great offensive launched to the east of Ypres.

On 19 September 1917 the 8th Battalion entered the front line near Ypres. The following day they launched an attack under a heavy artillery bombardment against German positions in an area known as Clapham Junction. Their operation was largely successful, and resulted in the capture of numerous German prisoners.

During the operation, however, Private Edwards was hit by an artillery shell, sustaining serious wounds to his arms, legs, and side. He was taken to a nearby casualty clearing station but died of his wounds shortly afterwards. He was 34 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died during 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 Andrew Edwards, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section