Diary of Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, 3 September 1939 - 19 October 1940 - Part 1

would you very kindly return this
book when you have finished with it
as I really do not wish to lose it
M. E. Edmondson.
PS
The others really do not matter much.

(1)
Keeping a short diary was at Jacks suggestion.
Sunday 3^rd Sept 1939 (at war)
at Jacks suggestion. I am writing
this "a few lines when ever possible, & he
would do the same & may be we could later
compare notes - but I had better
go back to the commencement.'
Sunday evening 8 ^PM we three went
over to the Scotts home. Mr & Mrs. Scott & Alice
were home. Bill had gone down the
coast with the M^cGowan family for the
week end.
The news included a special announcement
by the Prime Minister at 8 ^PM. "England
is now at war" Jack had just walked
in & of course stood to await the news, not
to disturb anyone. When that announcement
came on he just walked across to
where I was sitting put his arm around
me & said (no one else has made a
comment of any kind & we were all in
silence). "The Prime Minister should
now bring in compulsory service, Put
every man where they are best suited
- no square pegs in round holes - & no
exemption for only sons" - He made it clear

2
to me what his views were in the few words
spoken
We came home early. Jack to get his gear
packed for the morning. Dad & I helped. We made
his white webbing whiter. The brass more
shining, had some hot coffee & to bed at
2 ^AM
We got up very early on the next morning
Dad took him to Liverpool Sta' & was
at Merrylands before 7 ^AM Falling
in went on to Narrabeen for coast
guard duty at Barrenjoey 4^{th BN}
3
Sunday 3^rd Sept 1939- declaration of war. 8 ^PM
Monday 4th   "       "       4^th BN met at Merrylands
Drill Hall 7 ^AM & on to Narrabeen by truck
Coast guard duty. Barranjoey Lighthouse
Mon 20^th May /40
Transferred to A.I.F. got his papers
& into Ingleburn Camp - nasty wet day -
Thur 15^th Aug/40
Jack drove an officers car to
Bathurst he was too ill to walk.
Sat 19^th October /40
Embarked on the Queen Mary -
Disembarked Bombay, & by train to a
British Camp "Deolah" on 5 Nov /40
12/11/40 Embarked for Egypt from Bombay
per "Rohna" ex cattle coal. 12-11-40.

4.
5.
Copy of Letters.
Time lodged
8-40 ^PM —25th April 1941
Liverpool 26^th April /41
45144.
It is with deep regret that I
have is inform you that NX 15705.
Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was
Killed in action on the fourteenth April
and desire is convey to you the
profound sympathy of the Army
and the Military board.
Minister for the Army,
9.10 ^AM

6
VX 48627.
Pte A. L. Dalziel
"D" Coy 2/17 ^BN
A.I. F. Abroad.
16.4.41
Dear Mrs. Edmondson.
What can I
say that will in the slightest degree
convey my sympathy for you in your
great loss? I fear that there is
absolutely nothing that describes my
feelings on the matter.
Unfortunately as yet I have not
had of the honour of meeting you
but I intend is come and see you
when all this ghastly business is over
Although I had only known Jack
since last December I think I can
quite rightly claim the distinction of
calling myself his best friend. My
loss and speaking for his section is
colossal, but of course we realise
that it is not to be compared with
yours.
Jack died a hero Mrs. Edmondson
acclaimed by everyone, when he was
7
hit he was performing a deed of great
valour. After he was hit he saved
his officers life. Words cannot be
found to express our praise & gratitude.
I have Jacks personal things. his
watch. pen. diary collar badges and
colour patches which I will send
to you at earliest opportunity
He was cheerful to the last and
his last words "[[?ary]] give my love to
my folk, and Good luck old boy"
Fortunately he died very quietly and
painlessly
I must now close as we are
about to move back into the lines
- for revenge - I shall write a
longer letter to you at some future
date.
Once again let me give me my
heartfelt sympathy
Yours very sincerely
Athol. L. Dalziel

8
Mrs. Edmondson
'Forest Home'
Liverpool
AUSTRALIA
"Deepest sympathy, and love
from all the section.
Doug' Foster
D COY. 2/17 ^BN
9
Extract from letter written by Capt L. C. Brien.
NX 12298. A ^COY 2/17 ^BN A.I.F. abroad to
Mrs L Gardner. Wagga.
......Lil you had asked me about CpL
Edmondson of D ^COY. Yes! I knew him I was
at one time 2^nd I/C of that Coy. He was a
really good lad in every respect and
particularly well liked but unfortunately
Lil he was killed, and a great loss to his
Bⁿ
On Good Friday in the attack he went
out with the Bren and silenced the
machine gun posts, he was wonderful.
On Sunday night he was killed in a
counter attack, when going from one
job, to assist his platoon Com' out of
difficulties
His bravery will long be remembered
and his cobbers certainly revenged his
death in every way out here. You may
tell his Aunt he really was a wonderful
chap, none like him.
His services have been recognised &
he has been recommended for high distinction

10
NX 19384.
L/CPL W. E. Taylor
"D" ^Coy 2/17 ^Bn
A.I.F. Abroad.
Dear Mrs Edmondson.
I was very sorry Mrs
Edmondson that you never received my cable
or my letters I wrote you as soon
as we got back from the front line
I don't know what to say to you, we all
thought so much of your son. I am
sure there are many more letters beside
mine that did not get back to you.
Jack was my Corporal had been ever
since I went into camp at Ingleburn.
In Palestine and Egypt we were together
but on coming to Libya. I was transferred
to another Section (promotion) so that although
my section was only a short distance away
I was not actually with Jack when he
was wounded. He was brought into our pit
and remained there all night.
All that night he was with us Mrs
Edmondson, and at no time did he complain
or ask for anything what so ever.
Mrs Edmondson I know the appalling
loss to you, we had only know him
11
twelve months and the shock to us was
very, very big. He cannot be replaced
with us, or in the whole Battalion.
There are not many like him in the
whole army. Jack was the same
after he was wounded as before -
cheerful, and telling us he was all
alright.
He was the best mate, and the
best man it has ever been my good
luck to meet. Jack was the same
loveable, genuine man, from the
first day that we met him until
that last day.
Jack will never be replaced.
yours very sincerely
W. E. Taylor.

12
Extract from letter written by.
Cpl. W. E. Taylor 2/17 ^BN to his sister
Mrs. Rawling - Griffith
"Jack Edmondson was the
best man, and bravest fellow I
ever saw. He never once
complained after he was wounded
nor ask for anything.
We sent a lot of Huns with him
but if we sent them all. it would
not make up for Jack. He was
a real Hero.
13
"Koorawaiha"
15 Forrest Street
Haberfield
27.4.41.
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson.
It was a great shock
to us, when we heard that Jack had
given his life for his country.
At times like these words fail to
express the sympathy we feel for
you both in this tragic loss.
doubly tragic because Jack was
your only lad.
Words offer little consolation
but the heroic death is what those
who knew him would expect.
Through all his later school days
Jack was a very loveable lad, and
one that you could depend on to do
his best, and that no mean best
for his moral standard was very
high"
Yours very Sincerely
George Longmuir.

14
16/5/4 NX 12329. 2/17 ^BN
A.I.F. Abroad
Dear M^r & M^rs Edmondson,
You have my
whole hearted sympathy, for the loss of
your son Jack. He was a brave. clean
white man, who had the admiration
of every man in the company.
His bravery was outstanding and
even though he was mortally wounded
he saved his platoon Commander
Lt' MacKell. This is only one
instance of your sons heroism.
and quite honestly you have every
right to be very proud of him.
I have recommended his
wonderful bravery to higher authority
If you wish to have any further
information, or if there is
anything I can possibly do for you
please do not hesitate to ask
My whole company wishes to
join with me and sends you it's
deepest sympathy, and trusts that
15
with the passing of time. you will
be comforted.
Yours very sincerely
J.W. Balfe (Capt)
OIC. D Coy

16
Lt F. A. MacKell
B ^Co 2/17. Abroad
16-8-41
Dear M^r & M^rs Edmondson.
Jack was a
marvellous chap, & he will never be
forgotten by his comrades on this side
He was idolised by the men he
commanded and every one was his
friend.
Jack saved my life during the
engagement in which he was killed
and there is nothing I may do to repay
him. All I am able to do is to
offer you the sympathy of his 40 friends
in the 16^th platoon ^*
You may not have heard the
circumstances of his death, & as it is
an outstanding example of his courage
& leadership I will tell you as much
as I may
His sec' was allotted a particularly
hazardous to perform on the night of
April 14^th * They were delighted to be
given the job as upon its success
(Sympathy was from 40 men Privates (9 was 13^th night) [[on EE?]]
17
depended the safety of their comrades & many
others
He was hit four times whilst approaching
German machine gunners, but he
continued on & was responsible for
despatching many of them. At one time
I got into difficulties - one call to
Jack to come to me was sufficient to
bring him running to my side &
it was only a matter of moments.
before I was out of trouble.
It was obvious at this stage that
Jack was badly hit, he scattered the
remaining Germans & we returned
to our post. Jack died in the arms of
his comrades. You probably know to whom
I refer - Snow. - Ron - DL -
Splinter - Ted - & others of his sec'
Nothing can replace him, but
such losses only make us more
determined to xxx defeat these Germans
who know no answer but force.
Yours sincerely
F Austin MacKell, Lt