Diary of Maude Elizabeth Edmondson - 8 January 1940 - 27 June 1942 - Part 6

& then another for the duco to be
done. Had a very wretched week
with my legs.
Mrs Clark called in on her way
home from Liverpool.
Wed. 12^th Mar. 41.
I miss a lot of days but there
is not much to write I do a lot
of work & then get too tired I am
glad of my hot bath & to bed where
I scribble this
JW went to Sydney to see Mr.
Robson to see if he can force
anything to be done, regarding the
breaking fences. digging trenches
etc, We cant use the place & so
no income & no compensation 
from the military all we get is
beastly letters signed by Spender
as Minister for the Army. I have
wanted J.W. to give me the letters to
return to him. yet I know they
are better held. but at least they
could be gentleman enough to
trust us with a moderate amount
of courtesy but he isn’t.
Had a letter from Johnny Low. he
received the pair of sox I sent to him
yet Jack has had nothing. We are so
unlucky. I went to the city also
got more  wool & 2 pairs  of good
woolen  stockings (English) for M.J.
birthday.
Thur. 13^th Mar 41
Got another cable from Jack. he
said he was well, but I know by it
they are up well in the danger
zone. I shall await another cable
very anxiously
Sat 15^th Mar 41.
Mr Sheppard & JW went to a
meeting  at Rossmore last night re
increasing Shire rates etc.  Mrs
Sheppard stayed with me. Today I had
a complete clean up. all the house
& surroundings. so tonight I am
very tired as it took the whole day.

Friday 21^st Mar 41.
Margaret came out today for
the week end. JW met her at the
Station 

Thur 27^th Mar 41
A whole week has gone there is
nothing to write about a lot of
work at this time of the year. so
I keep going & am usually very
tired at night. ^_____
I send parcels & papers each week
& of course letters both air mail
& surface in hopes some catch
Jack up.  So far I dont think
he has got any papers & I send
all the Heralds & the Bulletin. &
the only parcel he has got to
date is a small one of 2 tins of
butter scotch, one of 100 cigarettes.
& I always enclose A.P.C.
Sun. 30^th March 41. ^___
So thankful to have Bernie Fitzpatrick
out for the afternoon. I simply
dread the Sundays one is no
sooner over than I am
dreading the next. I am
afraid our Easter Sunday shall
not  be happy as we feel sure
the 7^th Div is in action 

Mon. 31^st Mar 41.
J.W. went to a meeting in Liverpool
tonight re gymkhana to be held
on the show ground. I went by bus
this morning & on to Bondi. Came
home after tea & caught JW up. I
waited for him in the car.
Wed. 2^nd Apr 41
I went to Paramatta to get 2 very hard
teeth extracted. [[?]] Gloria & Mrs.
Newcombe got out of the bus just as
we were going out of the gate so
they came too. I would so rather
have been alone. The teeth were very
hard to extract & the injection
always affects me.
Thur. 3^rd Apr. 41.
Things have been going wrong all
day & this afternoon ended by JW.
getting a splinter off a steel wedge
in his leg, cut into the artery.
I had a job is get the bleeding stopped
& bandaged. Then him washed &
dressed to go to the Dr. He had to
stay in hospital much to his
disappointment, but I knew xx he would 

not be let home with a severed
artery. I was in a complete fix
with the cow etc. but old Mr Alf.
Randall very kindly came home with
me to do cow etc & stay for a
few days.
Letter today from Johnnie Low saying
he got the sox. I sent him.
Friday 4^th Apr. 41 ^____
Went to L'pool & to the hospital to see
how JW is getting on.
It is all bus info now. The car is
home. Mr. & Mrs B.C. Fitz came out with
me last night Mrs. Fitz drove me in
our car & they returned by their own
J.W. had Xray this morning & didn't 
get back to L'pool Hosp until after
3 P.M. Located the steel but Dr OBrien
has decided it best to leave it in
The Hosp is on the roughish side
guess it will take a bit of getting
used to, still he has to stay. I
took in some eats I think the food is
dished up rather rough.
The paper says Germans attacking
our & our troops are being driven
back. Germans have entered Bengazi
I feel so very fearful as I know
how little Jack spares himself. He
would so completely forget himself as if
he were just did not count. I get
the shivers when I think of it
there is no one I can even talk
to. I would not worry J.W.
Sun 6^th April 41.
Palm Sunday. & had another
dreadful day. I seem to feel there
is something going to happen. There
wasn't a bus that I could go to
L'pool hosp to see J.W. but he was
going along alright yesterday. Yet I
feel there is something. I went to the
Dr again and got another bottle
of medicine, it is the 3rd. yet I
don't feel any improvement. suppose
it is just nerves. My only ease
seems hard work outside & of 
course I knit until late at night.
Paper - Invasion of Yugoslavia
& Belgrade. The Germans seem to
pick Sunday for their special
atrocities. Heavy drive on Greece 

Australians as shock troops. I wonder
does other people feel like I do. Yet I
never have been a coward.
Mon. 7^th Apr. 41
Did a flying trip to Parramatta to
catch the dentist. My face has got
very painful. then hurried back to
the hospital. JW. doing very well
but wishing to get out of Hosp & get
home. Floating wire picked up at
Woy Woy
Tues. 8^th Apr 41
Went to Liverpool again & on to see the
Dr first to see how J.W. was doing
The Dr reports are all o.k. but he
gave me another prescription again
unasked. I assured him I did
not want it but he said my nerves
were getting the best of me. I
suppose it is being by myself
When I got to hospital J.W. not
allowed to come home until
tomorrow.  It was all such a
rush & too late & too far to walk
around to get the prescription
made up. as I had to catch the bus 

Wed. 9^th Apr 41.
Mrs Brown came down at 4 P.M. I was
busy getting ready to catch the 4.15 bus
J.W came home today also Ada
arrived on the day train so we took
a taxi to come home.
Thur. 10^th Apr. 41.
Ada went to Sydney this morning & across
to Manly & saw the large boats. they
are going out any time now. She
then went to Mosman & she said she
would catch the 5.10 PM. bus from
Liverpool but J.W. managed to drive the
car & we went to the station for her
It simply amazes me how she can
get around all day after travelling
all day yesterday.
The Anti-Air craft walked back to
Ingleburn again. reached our
corner at 8.30 A.M. this morning &
was met by the band. What most
astonishing things the military do.
Fri 11^th Apr. 41
Good Friday. Did so hope to go to
Church but J.W. leg still too stiff to
walk on. Large convoy left 

Sydney this morning about 40,000.
troops including air men. Q Mary.
Q Elizabeth, neon Amsterdam.
Mauritinia. Aquatania & other
troop ships besides the battle ships.
Said to be the largest Convoy to leave
Aus to date.
Sun. 13^th 41
Easter Sunday. Couldn't go to church
on account of J.W. leg, so did
nothing Only pray for the day to
end. It was a woeful day & I
could simply feel every nerve
jangling.
Mon. 14^th Ap. 41.
Ada went to L'pool on the very early
bus. even that was a relief. I
could squeal at people. & she
seemed to upset me by trying to
force me to do thing that to me
is impossible. She is going to
meet a Mrs. Rae & go on to the Royal
Show & got rather annoyed that I
would not also go. I would simply
die if I had to face a Royal
Show crowd on Easter Monday 

I dont know Mrs Rae. perhaps too
I am not used to any one talking
in the house I suppose it is my
fault & my nervy condition.
Ada got home safely on the 6.30 bus
I shall never forget today. I
started off so badly with Ada trying to
take me to the show & the whole
day has been a continuation. It
was more than I could decently
stick & to make it worse. Stiffy ^(the cat
for some reason joined in. he
came in & simply howled. He
never even gives a mew and
when he wants to draw our
attention to him. I then let him
in to the Dining room thinking
he would settle down. but he
simply ran from room to room
through the house yowling
such a weird yowl. I just
could not stand it so I scolded
him & sat him on a little
table outside the back door he
sat there for a while still yowling. So
I shut the doors, apparently he went 

off some where as he wasnt here for
his tea & not to come inside
tonight.
Tues. 15^th . Apr. 41
Ada went into the City on the 8.45 bus.
to Liverpool. she will stay the night
& go home tomorrow. She has only
had a short stay. I am sure it
wont do her much good - just a few
days of rushing around - Perhaps
my nerves shall be more under
control when I am by myself
Mrs. Shephard came over & looked
over the cows for J.W & we went
to Liverpool in the afternoon. Got
my medicine & posted a parcel of
knitting etc to Jack.
Fri 18^th Apr 41.
Nothing going right yet. for no
reason the car will never start. I
pushed until I nearly collapsed
then down the hill towards the
dam & it just starts. at the garage
they say they cant see anything
wrong with it.
Went to the Dr at the Hosp 10 AM.
had a long wait. The Dr did nothing
says it is going along alright.
Fighting terrific in Greece & N. Africa
not so good. I dread the casualty
list also the heaviest air raid over
London to date.
Account in the Herald of heavy fighting
& much use of bayonet at Tobruk.
Also gives an account of a charge in
which a Lieut & Corp. took prominent
parts. on Easter Sunday night. Of
course no names. When I read it
I passed it on to J.W. & told him I
was just sure the Corp. was Jack
he would neither agree or otherwise
but I have read it several times
& saved the cutting as I know the
Corp is Jack. It said no casualty's
but never the less I know also that
all is not well with Jack. It
was wet all day. Stiffy hasnt
turned up yet J.W. has looked
around & called for him but he
has not come home yet.
Sat 19 Apr. 41
Cleaned all the house thoroughly 

working & keeping going I find is best
of all. Still action in Tobruk & the
Australians are fighting a rearguard 
action in Greece. It is all
wrong & to me seems dreadful J. W.
takes it more casual.
Mon. 21^st Apr. 41.
We were starting off to go Ingleburn
Camp about the whole military business
to see Col. Moore. As we were at
the gate Nellie got off the bus. she
was coming to stay for a few days
so she just popped into our car
luggage & all and came along with
us too.
Wed. 23^rd Apr 41.
Yesterday had a big rash, Nellie
apparently getting the flu so she
returned to Manly. I was glad she
went as I still feel knocked out. I
seem to have had a dreadful time
of it & I feel quite weak & ill
Got a letter today from Jack dated
30.3.41 & for the first time he
said the conditions were bad.
The food short & water one pint bottle
for 48 hours. I think it is a first. It 
worried me terribly so I went to Liverpool
this afternoon & posted a parcel Horlicks
milk tablets, Chocolate, milk bis.
& cigs.
Thur. 24^th 41.
Went to Liverpool again. things are still
going wrong. Another bottle of nerve
med. I never seem to get away
from it. Anzac Day tomorrow we
shall not be going. J.W. still on
crutches.
Fri 25^th Apr 41.
Got up early & made 2 rich fruit
cakes for Jack. one in the forenoon
& one the afternoon. Got
one packed in tin & all cracks
filled in with choc. the wrappings
on the bottom half just ready
for the lid & the top stitching
& shall go in & post it in the morning
I am feeling afraid of something
all the while I was working &
packing cake etc. had a couple
of brandys to tide me along
Jack asked me is keep notes & he 

would do the same. I am afraid
that mine are a dismal failure
but nothing happy has even
happened for so long. All seem
to have gone wrong with me
It is very much wrong in North 
Africa too. When captured the
London Times said Bengazi was
a wonderful fort etc. & what a
benefit it would be to the
military etc. When the Germans
re-took it a few weeks later. the
same paper stated it as a
useless fort & rather a detriment
than an acquisition quite
useless in fact. A week later
an official message assured all
danger was finished is Egypt for
all times, Following a few
days later by the fact that the
inexperienced German soldiers
were hopeless & helpless in the
desert - They could not land
there - nor could they do
desert fighting.
Immediately following on that
paper report the news that Bengazi
had fallen to the Germans. & the
German army advancing along
the road towards Tobruk. I
suppose they are chasing our
Australian army which is without
equipment
It seems that the heads or the
powers that be are meddling
ghasily & no one getting the Truth
Sat 26^th 41 
Received the following telegram in the
mail the bus man brought it in.
'It is with deep regret that I have
to inform you that NX 15705 Corporal
John Hurst Edmondson was
Killed in action on the 14^th April 
and desire to convey the profound
sympathy of the ministry for the
Army and the Military board.
Minister for the Army.
P Spender. 

April 26^th 41.
Received notice Jack Killed in
Action 14^th April 1941.
July 4^th 1941
Notice of award posthumously of
Victoria Cross
4th Sept 1941
Notice from D.R.O.
Interred 15^th April 1941 Tobruk War
Cemetery Grave No 108.
- since altered to 111 -
Sept 27^th 1941.
Investiture Ceremony by Lord
Gowrie a go Admiralty house.
18^th Oct 1941
Hurlstone Memorial. unveiling
photograph etc.
 25^th Oct 1941.
Royal Horse Show (Granville) Silver
Memorial Cup - to be annual.
Nov 16^th 1941
War Veterans Home Narrabeen
unveiling enlarged photograph etc.
Dec. 21^st 1941.
Requiem Eucharist and unveiling
memorial tablet. St Johns Church
Wagga Archdeacon West the
ceremony & unveiling of tablet
by W.M. Curry V.C.
June 27^th 1942.
Hurlstone memorial plaque of
bronze, unveiling ceremony etc. 

6.11.50
A dream. I was somewhere late a night & it
was so very dark. I had a good way to go.
Father said 'you cant do it by yourself wait a while &
Jack & I will go with you' Elwyn said 'I wont go
too I wont be there.' Father said "We will take you
home at half past 12 o'clock & see you home".
Jack  & I met G Mitchell, SM. L'pool while waiting at the Sta

in the car. Jack on his final Mr Mitchell told Jack he was sorry
he (Jack) was going a & wished him luck, & ended up by saying
that he (Mr Mitchell) wouldn't be one to go, he would rather stay at 

home & be a live mouse than go & be a dead lion.
Jacks reply was simply "would you"