Diary of Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, 3 September 1939 - 19 October 1940 - Part 6

96
Epsom Road

Bathurst

20^th July 1941

Mr. & Mrs. Edmondson

My dear Folks

Forgive me for 

taking this privilege in writing 

to you. but I am writing this 

as one of Jacks old school mates, 

and it is with my heartfelt 

Sympathy that I write to you. 

I as one who knew him and 

admired him greatly, and knew 

what a tower of help he was 

to his pals. always with a 

smile, his generosity to his mates 

was unbounding, he shouldered 

our burdens, he was our back 

stop.

It was whilst doing second

year at Hurlstone. I came in

contact with him, he was a

true mate of mine in trouble
or not during my following two
years training, and it came as a
97
great shock to me when I read the
very sad news
We have crossed many rivers since
leaving Hurlstone. but we still
retain a loving memory of those
happy days we spent together at
the time perhaps thinking them
hard, but we have lived to find
out different to the disipline of the
old school under the guiding 
hand of Mr. Longmuir who
treated all the boys as his own, it
is no wonder that the boys went
on life's journey living, loving,
respecting his King and Country
Dear Friends, I close with the
utmost pride. sorrow. & congratulations
on the very high honour
bestowed on your loved son and
our very dear old school mate. & we
feel proud of our fallen comrade
who died (for the honour of his
country) Corporal Jack Edmondson. V.C.
"May God bless your both
in your great sorrow, I am
an old comrade
Frank. G. Connell.

98
Major A C Muho
Highfield
Belmore
5 July 1941
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson
Having offered you my
deepest sympathy on the tragic
loss of your gallant son, I
now now take the opportunity
of joining with the large
number who will send along
their congratulations on this
recognition of the wonderful
courage of a brave soldier,
although foremost in my mind is
the thought, that compensate for
the loss of a young life of such
great promise
Your son was a fine tribute
to his home life and when it was
said to me, that he was the best
of sons to his Father, and took
the place of a daughter to his
Mother, those words simple in
themselves had a weight of meaning
The act that gained this
99
– The one honour that has to be won
would be no surprise to you. because
you knew when he went away how
great his life was and he would
act as a soldier as he did when a
boy and a man, and in the years
to come while the gap in your
lives can never be filled, I trust
time will soften the sorrow.
and you will think of the
nations recognition of his
bravery as an everlasting
tribute, also to the sacrifice
you have both made in the
cause of right
All good wishes to you both
Yours sincerely
A.C. Muho
Major

Sir – In answer to the anti - conscription
agitations, the views of Abraham Lincoln, the great
President of the United States at the time of the Civil
War. when the Southern States endeavoured to
secede from the Union are very interesting.
President Lincoln faced with just these difficulties
and seeing the two systems at work, summed
up his judgements in the following terms :– 
"Voluntarism is the unprincipled dodge of
cowardly politicians. It has ground up the
choicest seed corn of the nation. It has
consumed the young, the generous,
the patriotic, the intelligent, and the brave.
and it has wasted the best moral, social
and political elements of the Republic .
and left _^the cowards, the shirkers, and the
money makers to stay at home and
procreate their kind"..

100
Church Street
Bundanoon
6.7.41
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson
Mrs Jennings and I join
with your many friends, known & unknown
in extending to you our sincerest
sympathy in the loss of your dearly
loved and gallant son. and we
appreciate the joy you are deserving
from the honor ythat has been gained
so nobly, so unselfishly in a
supreme hour of sacrifice.
As a boy at Malebo, John had our
deepest admiration & respect which
ever increased, and to lose such a
boy in the prime of life, is a sad,
sad blow. but you have the added
comfort that your son has gone
down with a name inscribed indelibly
while British blood can write the
pages of freedom. – Your boy will
live while a Britisher survives or serves.
Praying that God comfort you in
your hour of trial.
Your affec. friends
A & F.E. Jennings
101
10 July 1941
Nancy Consett-Stephens
Red Cross House
27 Jameson House
Dear Mrs Edmondson
I write to offer you
sympathy and congratulations. I
have worked every day for the soldiers
since 1914, and am very interested
on seeing the photograph of
your son in the papers. I felt I
must write to you and tell you how
sorry I am for you both.
He looks such a splendid fellow
with a wealth of character. He
is outstanding one rarely sees
such character in a face. I know
what the loss must be to his
family. and to his country
However great the honor it
doesn't mean less sadness and
sorrow for the family
With my sincere sympathy
Yours sincerely
Mancy Consett-Stephens 

102
Diocesan Church House
George Street
Sydney 27.11.42.
At a recent Session of the Synod ^of the
Diocese of Sydney, the following
resolution was moved by the
Rev. R. Harley-Jones was
unanimously carried :–
"That this Synod place on
Record the proud appreciation of
the brave gallantry and
devotion to duty of the late
Corporal John Hurst Edmondson
of Rossmore, near Liverpool, who
was the First Australian to be
awarded the Victoria Cross in
the present war" 
This Synod also
expresses its deepest sympathy with
his parents, Mr & Mrs J W Edmondson
in their great loss and
further desire to send
Congratulations to them upon
103
the great honour and
distinction conferred by His
Majesty King George VI upon
their late son
S.H Denman
A.L. Brythe
secularies of
Synod. 

104
NX 16302.
C/COY 2/17 BN
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson.
It is with my deepest
sympathy and congratulations.
Jack deserved everything and more,
he was one such as we others cannot
attain. As a lad he gave all he
had, his pay was for the asking
but he had something more than
we older one did not have his
courage and self sacrifice was beyond
my saying.
His wish to see Jerusalem was
granted, and he payed another
great sacrifice as was given
nearly 2000 yrs ago.
If he had to leave us I feel it
was a fitting and suitable passing
but leave with all people a loss.
You have my deepest sympathy
whilst congratulating you
Yours sincerely
Cec OBrien
105
Anzac Memorial
Hyde Park .14.7.41
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson.
The honour of the "Victoria
Cross" awarded to your son was
referred to in recent meeting of State
Council of this organisation, when
mention was also made with deep
regret at his passing
In extending to you the heart felt
Sympathy of the State President and
members of the Returned Soldiers, sailors &
Airmens _^Imperial league of Australia we realise
that the burden of your great sorrow
will be a little hightened in the
knowledge of the great service he
rendered to the Empire which
resulted in his being given the
highest of all decorations
His self sacrifice will be an
inspiration to all of us.
Yours very sincerely
J Black.
State Secretary 

106
VX48627.
C/CPL G.L. Dalziel
D Coy 2/17 BN AIF
Christmas night 25.12.41
My dear Mrs Edmondson.
Being Christmas Day you
were _^so much in my thoughts I simply
had to write to you.
We had our spread at dinner
time, and a very good effort it
was too. Unfortunately the weather
has been particularly miserable
here for the last week and it did not
let up today — we even had mail – 
however the show must go on.
We had the Officers & Sergeants
waiting on us, needless to say the
service was dreadful – The soup
was delightful, the chicken was tender,
and the vegetables just right, The
Sweets were delicious. They even
gave us a bottle of beer. On the
whole it was a very enjoyable turn
out. A proper Christmas spirit
prevailing, and every one was happy
107
If the weather had been bright, it would
have been ^a thoroughly enjoyable
day.
This is our second Christmas
away from home
All the section joined me in a
toast to you both at lunch time,
and asked me to convey their
very best wishes for the coming
year to you both.
We had a toast to fallen
comrades, and every man who
knew Jack - just said simply
"Jack"
It is now past midnight, but
I simply had to write . . . . 
love Athol.

108
Queenton
30 Burra Road.
Artarmon
(July 13^th 1941)
To
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson,
Kindly accept my heartfelt
sympathy in the great loss you have
sustained.
"His life made beautiful by Kindly
deeds, Courage Kindness love
and Peace were his daily creeds
Calmly he sleeps, – His eyes
closed to beauty. Earth hath
no charm For the soul that has
fled. Only Asleep! till the
sound of the trumpet – Calls
forth again. Your hero now
dead. Sudden the call He
was doing his duty. Think not
this strange He died for the
right - Soon will Christ
conquer The cruel pains of
Anguish. Death. Sorrow. Grief  – 
Then Radient light. Rest.
Dearest loved one. Though
109
sad be the parting - Jesus will
wipe away all tears and pain
only Farewell' - Till the
dawn of the morning.
Jesus - in triumph is coming
again.
Lucy Gertrude Booker 

110
"Teeka"
10 Lamona Street
East Launceston
Tasmania
My dear
Not ever more will his way be,
there with the laughing streams. the
quiet way hills whose solitude he
sought at eventide. Never again
will the red flowers by the gate
Or magpies carolled welcome to
the dawn. Have power to strike
his pulse with sudden joy. For
he has known another world
Has risen high to greet the
waking day and trailing misty
clouds Has chased the sun
cheer through the summer sky  – 
To him no cloudy curtains
Keeps the sky a place of mystery,
For he has peeped behind the veil
that holds the virgin moon a
capture blindfold. He has
slid exultantly beneath the
rainbows arch. and leaving
shade and shadow. beyond the
111
rainbows arch, and leaving
shade and shadow far below
Played in the golden day beyond
the raindrops source.
No bonds can hold him
now  – even the anxious hearts
and gentle hands. eager to ease
his burdens, swift to share
some of the weight that oft times
bends him down. He does
not need, for he can take his
grief and hide amid a
wilderness of stars. His is the
way of angels. Far above our
dull uninteresting sod, He
laughs in the winds embrace, keeps
with the clouds, and in his
hours of loneliness communes
with God
Winifred Blanbaum.
Max just reported missing 

112
"Duart"
Lismore.
My dear,
My deepest sympathy.
Like a little poppy bud with silken hair
Yet half revealed his loveliness.
Your baby came.
You saw the little flower unfold.
You watched the little eyes grow wise
Knew when the Knowledge of the world
Replaced the wonder of the skies.
What wisdom in a baby lies
All heaven in a babys eyes.
You saw the child become a man
Noted the firing of his soul
Forsake the lure of the flesh.
Reach ever you a greater goal
Seize life, my darling grasp it whole
Love and life and laughter fine
These my darling shall be thine
Love and life and laughter fine
The steady tramp of marching feet
Threading the countrys martial strain
Listen! the cheers the crowds release
Through moving mist of tears & pain
113
A myriad faces - yet for me
But one, my only son.
Over the world they shout his name
I hold dead medals in my hand
I should be proud. I would be glad
But Oh! my little laughing lad
The only Son I ever had
My little loving laughing lad.
In deepest sympathy and love
Ethel Caldwell
Jacaranda Av.
Lismore.
N.S.W.
Lloyd Killed Durna, M.E.
Ethel Caldwell went to England later.
died Liverpool England. ashes later to
N Africa & placed in Lloyds grave.