Diary of Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, 3 September 1939 - 19 October 1940 - Part 4

From Lieut - Col. J. W Crawford.
56 
From the office of the Ha' Qtr
2/17 ^BN Aus. Inf. Battn
Australian Imperial Forces
Abroad 14 July 1941
My dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson.
I hope sincerely that my
earlier letter reached you before the
publication of the award of the Victoria
Cross posthumously to your son. the
late Corporal Edmondson of this unit.
I could not for service reasons
be very definate in my previous
letter to you but now I can write
more freely.
Your son's action and heroism
have been very widely recognised
a fact which will be very obvious
to you when you have read the
copies of the letters which I am
sending you herewith:
I doubt if any Regiment could
be more honoured than ours has
been. and as you to will feel

when you have read the letters
emanating from the Proudest
Regiment in the British Army.
57  

(The 1^st Royal Horse Artillery).
couched in such terms as that now
enclosed.
Between this Unit and
ourselves there has been created as
deep a tie as ever has existed between
two units who were absolute
strangers to each other. This applies
not only in regards to the Officers
but to the men also.
The other letters which have
been received. I am sure you will
prize as greatly as we do, realising
that the messages of congratulations
which they contain although they
must accordingly to custom be
messages to the Unit are in hard
fact messages to you Mr. Edmondson
and your wife personally.
I almost hesitate to write
to you. feeling that this letter
may well re-open your wounded
feelings.
If you could but know the 
pride which the Regiment feels
in your son's achievements

58

the solid tradition that such
an act and award has created
and the honour which his act
has brought to his-many
comrades, whose valour has
not received official recognition
and obviously cannot.
You will understand the feeling
of not only the unit but of the 
whole garrison, and particularly
those English Regiments part of
whose troops were either under
my command or in support of
the Battalion during the action.
Sincerely yours
J.W. Crawford
Lt. Col. commanding Aus Inf. 13 Bⁿ

A.I.F.
59
"M" Battery
Royal Horse Artillery
10 July 1941
Dear Colonel.
I cannot tell you
how proud we all are to have
been fighting under your
command on Easter Monday
and this directly associated
with the first Australia "V C"
of this war.
We all know of Corporal
Edmondson's wonderful deeds on
the same morning, as the news
had spread all over the 'fortress
and we have been hoping that
he would receive the highest
award: so that when the
announcement came through
it was no surprise to us
Your Battalion must all
be very proud, and we too,

are so very glad we were in
action alongside you when
"B" and "D" companies were

60
driving the enemy out with
such men as Corporal Edmondson
that memorable morning.
It is so sad that he did
not survive to receive the
medal himself but his
name will live for ever
I will be so glad if
you will convey to his family
and to your Battalion the
congratulations and the
heart-felt sympathy of the

ranks of "M" Battery

Yours sincerely
R.A.Eden.

61
24 Aust 'Anti-Tank Coy
In the field 

7 July 1941
English Reg.
Lieut Col. J.W. Crawford
2/17 ^BN  A. I. F
Dear Colonel
Please accept my sincere
congratulations on the decorations
conferred on the late
Corporal Edmondson
The officers and men
of this unit join with me in
congratulating the Battalion on
being as far as I am aware the
first Australian Imperial Force
Unit to produce a winner of
this core honour during the
present war.
It is a matter of profound regret
that this soldier was not spared
to learn of the recognition of his
heroism.
Yours sincerely
H.B. Norman

Captain

62

From Lieut Colonel Williams
Royal Horse Artillery
1^st Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery
8^th July 1941
To The Officer Commanding
2/17 ^Bn  A.I.F.
May I convey to your
Regiment the unanimous
congratulations of all Ranks of
this Regiment on the award of
the Victoria Cross to the late
Corporal Edmondson
His outstanding gallantry
on that particular occasion has
already been widely and
frequently discussed amongst
ourselves, as one of the most
magnificent feats know to us
and now we read with
unbounded satisfaction the
modest statement granting
"The Greatest of all Honours"
63

It has been a memorable

privilege for this Regiment to
have served in battle with a 
Battalion that included such
gallant men as Edmondson
and now we are prouder than
ever of that association.
We mourn with you, and
with his family in the sad
fact that Corporal Edmondson
has not survived such a 
very well deserved award of
The Victoria Cross

J Williams
Lieut Colonel Royal Horse Artillery
Commanding 1^st Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery

64

Sgt W. Merrikin
423 Canteen
Military Camp
Greta 13.7.41

Dear M^r & M^rs Edmondson.
To offer mere sympathy
and congratulations which I do
from the bottom of my heart:(for 
Jack was not an ordinary lad).
seems almost usual words, idle
words and insufficient.
Whilst I was in charge of the
canteen serving the 2/17 ^Bn . I
became acquainted with your son
Jack and whilst offering for my 
sincerest sympathy, I know it is
no way ofset by the highest
honour the Empire has to offer.
As an ex-soldier and now,
on home service, I can quite
understand why a man of the
calibre of Jack received such
recognition. It is not the
masterful lime-lighting type that
receive such an honour, but the

65
'quiet' purposeful sincere type" such
as your son was.
He was in good company too, as
the 2/17 had a particularly fine
type of men in it.
I was proud to be associated
with them, and I have a cherished
possession that was presented to me
by the Sergeants mess. It's a 
photo of the King which used to 
hang in the mess over the
President's table and was draped
with the Battalion colours.
Before they left they gave it to
me in recognition of my service
to the Battalion also many of the
Sergeants autographed it then I
asked others who I had got to know
to sign their names on it as well
Jacks name I am proud to say is
on it. Also Mackell, Slattery,
Hedges, Deering etc
On one Sunday when all the
visitors came up to see the boys
we were particularly busy, and the
canteen became littered with

66
with rubbish etc. Jack came
up to me bringing four or five
of his boys.  Jack said
"Fatigue reporting for duty Sergeant"
I replied that I had not asked
for a fatigue.  Jack laughingly
said they were offering to clean
the canteen voluntary. It was
a wonderful gesture, and I gave
them out brooms etc. They set
about it with a right good will
and soon had it spick and
span and myself out of difficulty.
Later in the day Jack brought
the lads again and they did it
again for me.  It was then that
they placed their names on the
Kings photograph for me.
After over twelve months of 
running canteens, that is the
only time that any of the troops
had offered to clean the place
and straighten me out voluntary
and I and my two associates
will always remember that kindly
act. The job wanted doing we were
67
too busy to do it. Jack saw it and
brought his lads and did it. That
was all there was to it, but it was a
wonderfully generous and kindly
action and we appreciated it as such
In his last great deed he was 
actuated by just the same spirit:
helping the less able.
Nothing can replace him or soften
the blow, he truly can ill be spared
and the world is also the worse off for
his going.
Your loss is tremendous but I thought
you might like to know of this kindly
generous act of your brave son, so

I have taken this liberty of telling
you of it.
"I am proud that I knew him"
W. Merrikin (Sgt)
15 Cross Street
Concord.

68 
Extract from letter from
Archbishop of Sydney

Diocesan House
George Street
Sydney
7^th July 1941
Dear M^r & M^rs Edmondson
I have previously extended our
sympathy to you, which I still
feel for you.
My wife and I were delighted
that the to see that the first
Australian Victoria Cross has
been awarded to your son.
The account in the Herald on
Saturday shows how well deserved
the Award was. In your
great grief it will be a comfort
to you both that his valour
should have been rewarded in
this signal way.
His name will live in Australia
and English History as long as the Empire
Stands. Believe me. Yours sincerely
Howard, Sydney.
69
Dr Dixon Hughes
Macquarie Street
7 July 1941

Dear Mrs Edmondson,
I have extended to yourself
and husband my deepest sympathy, now
I hesitate to offer congratulations.
The Victoria Cross is a most wonderful
honour which few can earn, yet the loss
it entails to you both and to our country
make me hesitate
I so well remember you and always
will and knowing John to be your son
I well know how he won his Victoria
Cross - from Mother to son - I
also know the courage ^needed now, and it
will be tremendous but you will
attain it. May God help you.
If at any time I can be helpful to
you please do not hesitate to come to
me. I should be proud to be able to
help you. Knowing yourself and
husband should be the proudest
people in the land.
With sympathy and pride
Your sincerely
T. Dixon. Hughes

70

J.B. Moffatt
Wemberley Chambers.
104 Hunter Street
Sydney
8 July 1941
J. Edmondson Esq.
Hume Highway
Liverpool. N.S.W.
Dear Mr Edmondson
I proposed to write
to you some little time ago re-
your son Corporal Edmondson V.C.
but thought it advisable to
wait until the sad but glorious
news was confirmed officially.
My son N.X. 12328
Captain J.G Moffatt
H.Q. Coy 2/17 ^B.N.
writing to me on 31^st May 1941
mentions your sons action and
bravery. In the 1^st part of his

 letter he says :-
"Our big day was
Easter Sunday night, and early
71
Monday morning. On that day
the old 2/17 ^Bn showed the stuff
of which it was is made"
And relative to your son he says.
"There have been quite a few
recommended for decorations
following on that affair
including one Corporal Edmondson
who has been recommended for
the Victoria Cross .
"His story is one of the most
remarkable bravery which
finished in his death. He was
with some others under a young
officer in a section post, when
a Hun machine gun post started
from not far off them. The
young Officer and about half
a dozen of them started off on
a bayonet jaunt to clean out
the machine gun post.
Edmondson was wounded badly
twice immediately he came out
of his post, but not with standing,
continued on and killed two or

72
more of the Huns with his own
bayonet and then dealt with more
who were attacking the officer
when he was engaged with another
Hun.
Having finished that little party
they all discovered that they were
under fire from another machine
gun and they had to retire.
Edmondson then approached
this second gun and stood in
front of it, to draw there fire
whilst the others got back"
This letter is available to you
and M^rs Edmondson to read, or if any
value to you, I will forward the part of
the original letter. - - -
Yours sincerely
J.B.Moffatt.
Later M^r J.B. Moffatt did send to us his son
Capt/ J G Moffatt's letter to us as above
with additions
73
NX. 18113 Dr. J Deering 8/10/41
2/8 Aus Field Ambulance
Dear M^rs Edmondson
I feel I must write again.
I am sorry my previous letters & cable never
reached you, my wife has told me.
My birthday yesterday. Jack's today.

last year we had a wonderful party. The
biggest & lovelyest cake I have seen, Minty's
chocolates, peanuts and all were Jacks out
of that wonderful box you sent him. Was a 
special trip to Bathurst for it. We had beer,
Jack Orange Drink.
I thought you may like to know, I am 
spending the afternoon with Jack as we had 
arranged. how insignificant we shall
be beside Jacks grave. He was the finest
of men, the best chap I had ever known.
I sat with him during his last few hours
I know you were his pal as well as his mother
He said so often "not to forget to send you
his love" "Tell Mother I am thinking of her
and Dad" He always answered with that very
wonderful smile. He knew he was going
home, and if any one was so prepared he
was.
Yours very sincerely
Johnnie Deering

74
Inspections Office
Police Department
Petersham
5^th July 1941

Dear Old Friends
Knowing each of you
and having had the hand of friendship
extended to me in your home, I really
must write these few lines of
sympathy in your great loss you
have suffered by the death of your
noble son. Whilst stationed in
Liverpool I saw much of him
on his way & at at the Railway Sta'
His moral standards were high
and conspicuous to all his contacts
May the Good God in Heaven comfort
and console you in these dark hours
Please endeavour to think that your
loved one is in his heavenly home
where there is no pain or suffering
and that he looks down upon you
and bids you not to fret or grieve
that he will be awaiting your
coming, when you will each meet to

75
part no more.
What a consolation it must be, to
each of you to know that your
gallant son won the highest
distinction ever to be gained, by
laying down his life for a comrade,
therefore in your blinding tears of
sorrow, must be truly proud to
realise that you bred such a 
gallant son-  What better words
than those :- "So brave a mother
must have bred so brave a son.
I raise my hat to each of you 
for the magnificent and noble
deeds of your wonderful boy
and at the same time I salute
his golden memory.

In deepest sympathy and
Congratulations
W.H Dudley'
Inspector of Police