Diary of Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, 3 September 1939 - 19 October 1940 - Part 7

114
"Woodleigh"
Kings wood
Via Corowa
8^th July 1941
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Edmondson,
After being a class mate
at Hurlstone for three years with
your son Jack. I must offer my
very deepest sympathy and regret.
I was one of the many he really
did help, his love, his help and
his wonderful smile was for all
Now he has paid the supreme
sacrifice. The proud admiration
for me, when I read of the
Victoria Cross. You are truly
to be congratulated for being the
parents of such a good brave,
and noble soldier. It truly
applied to Jack from his young years
Greater love has no man than
this, he lay down his life, and
may "God comfort you and give
you strength"
Sad times it has been
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you know my only brother. (he
was at Hurlstone too") on the
23^rd May he was Killed here on
the farm, by a horse jumping
over him and striking him over
the heart. He was home waiting
on a call up for the R.A.A.F
I pray God this war will soon
end with victory for our cause
and that such brave and fine
men as Jack will not have
given their lives in vain.
Affectionately. I remain
One of Jack's class mates
Alwyn Davis.

116
From
Major-General Sir Arthur
Dowler
Major General Sir Arthur Dowler
K.B.E.C.B.
Colonel. East Surrey Regiment
The Barracks.
Kingston-on-Thames.
Dear Mr & Mrs. Edmondson.
I write to thank you very
much for so kindly sending the
photograph of your son, and the
citation for his award of the Victoria
Cross which I have received through
Brigadier Gallaghan.
These will be placed in the 'V.C'
Section of the Regimental Museum at our
Depot at Kingston-on-Thames with
those of our own "V.C"s and of Major
Currie. V.C. of the South Alberta
Regiment our allied Canadian
Regiment.
We feel that these citations
and photographs are a great
inspiration to the serving
members of the Regiment and
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this record of your son's very
gallant action will indeed be a
treasured addition.
It will also be a permanent
reminder of the close friendship
between the 17^th Battalion.
Australian Infantry (North
Sydney Regiment) and the East
Surrey Regiment.
On behalf of my Regiment I
would express the deep regret
we feel that your son lost
his life as a result of his
outstanding bravery and
offer you our very sincere
sympathy
Yours sincerely
Arthur Dowler.

118

"Harborne"
Parramatta 5.7.41
Dear Mr & Mrs. Edmondson
Thank you Mrs. Edmondson for
repl writing to me in reply to my
first letter. now I must apologise.
I met Mrs. Mackill and got quite the
wrong impression
I am joining with thousands of
Australians who will be glad to know
Our King has awarded your dear boy
the highest possible honour.
the Victoria Cross.
"There is no death! What seems so
is transition '
'This mortal breath is but a suburb
of the life elysian.
'Whose portals we call Death. "
And may you both be comforted by the
greatness of his heroism, and in the
words of the same poet be able to say.
"We will be patient, and assuage
the feeling.
'We may not wholly stay:
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By silence sanctifying, not
concealing.
The grief that must have way.
With my very best wishes Dear Mrs.
Edmondson, for continued health
and consolation
Believe me
Yours sincerely
John Shorter.

122
"The grave in the desert '"
"A PRAYER"
Dear Mrs Edmondson
"I pray the prayer as the Eastern do
May the peace of Allah abide with you.
To a wonderful lad, where ever you go-
may the palms of Allah Forever grow.
Through the days of sunshine
And nights of rest
May the peace of Allah forever you
blest:
So I touch my heart, as the Eastern
do
"May the Peace of Allah abide with you
Mahommed
NX16904.
123
Written by Col Crawford on
his last night in Tobruk. on the
back of Photograph of Jack grave
"Your dead, but mine too. After
Sunset on this last evening. I went
alone to all their graves to say
"Good-bye." The guns were still
the sky was clear, and the cool of
the evening night close at hand
They lay in Peace for their long
"Stand Down"
-John Crawford.
Written on the photograph of the
grave of Corporal J.D. Edmondson
by Lt Colonel Crawford, and
sent to me by him on his
departure from the
Middle East — Tobruk —
January 1942.

124
D. Coy 2/17^Bn Tobruk.
April 1941
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Edmondson.
In deepest sympathy to you
in your grievous loss. From one who
feels we too have lost terribly much
"He shall grow not old
As we like others grow old
Age shall not weary him
Or the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember him"
When ever the Lotus closes.
When ever the wild fowl wake.
A soul goes out on the East wind
Who died for Englands sake.
Yours sincerely
"A Rat"
Tobruk
April 1941
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Canberra
Easter 1942.
Dear Mr & Mrs Edmondson.
. . . . . . . Another Easter day
has come. We remember how
great the life, so very short the years
It is not the years that count. It
was what he did with those few
short years. They were greater, and
so full of good deeds & valient
courage. That so few can attain
or understand in the long span
of years, unhonoured and unsung
Whilst your son's name shall live
on, not only in the British Empire
as one of Australians greatest sons
but in the world as a whole.
We realize the great fight you are
putting up. & feel you are worthy parents
of that gallant son of yours, I hope you
can often feel him very close to you. I
am sure he would be very proud of
your courage. His Excellency sends
his good wishes & remembrances of your
gallant to you. Yours sincerely
Zara Gowrie.

126
With sincere sympathy to Jack's
Mother. We think of you and we shall
always remember our loved Corporal
and may "God Keep and protect his
Parents."
The Hun attacked at evening
on that sacred of all days.
The desecration of Holy days
Seemed ever the German way
A golden moon was at its full
We longed that day for rest
And now it was our Easter Day.
Our thoughts were of home - the best
The Hun tanks came. huge, strong, & grim
Seeming in endless wave
Our lads were new. were very young
But they were fearless brave.
The sixteenth's platoon's, third section
Each one a big strong lad.
Six young stout hearts that Easter night
Gave of the best they had.
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The enemy he must be stopped
The Huns outnumbered forty
And Meggsie's section was detailed
To carry out the sortee.
Meggsie was their Corporal
Each loved the ground he trod,
Prepared to follow, whence he led.
With a silent word to God.
The world now knows who the Corporal was
Jack Edmondson his name.
That name for ever will live on
In the History of Fame
He gave to each a quiet word.
"Get ready. Come with me"
They nothing asked, we'd follow him
E'en to eternity.
Their thoughts must have been varied
But self thoughts were cast aside
We knew they'd do their duty
And follow Jack with pride.
The enemy picked men, well armed.
Our arms helplessly small.
A rifle. A bayonet, and hand grenade.
But Jack had a grin for all

128
They advanced, and attacked with fury.
Was it minutes, or hours, or more.
The German horde, they had dispersed.
With dead numbering more than a score.
How quickly we burst into cheering
The victory had been so great.
But then we heard. 'Jack is wounded'
It turned our gladness into hate.
We gathered around our laddie
Scarce breathing, lest breath or sighs
From us would disturb our hero
Or he see the tears in our eyes.
We spoke to him in trembling voice
He gave us a smiling nod.
In life He gave his all for us
In death. "He'll meet his God."
When getting on towards the dawn
Life ebbing out the while.
"He sent home his love", "He wished us luck"
And gave us his wondrous smile.
Jacks ideals were the highest
Self standard likewise high.
The greatest pal, we ever had.
No fears! when he was nigh
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Now Jack has gone that clean white man
No greater lad was born
He gave his life, to save another
He passed from us at dawn
"So long, friend, mate" 'Please God we'll meet"
When we to go to rest"
A gentleman born, the world ill can spare
Australia's whitest and best."
"We thank our God on every remembrance
of you"
Yours sincerely
— A Tobruk Rat —
April 1941

130
Here to day the sun is slowly and we
thought, sadly sinking to rest in the
Western Desert, The shadows are
sombre in their dress. and our
hearts are heavy with grief. Beside
us on the ground are a number of
blanket clad figures. Twenty four
hours before :
"They were young
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady
and aglow;
. . . . They fell with their faces to the foe."
"We said, Good-bye: and grieved that
war's unholy law
Decreed that they should die.
Just o'er the hills the blue sea swells.
And soft mists flux and fuse it
with the sky.
In desert plains they softly sleep.
Across the foam their loved ones
weep
We will not, dare not forget!"
Lord God of hosts be with us yet
Lest we forget! Lest we forget
Arthur W. McIlveen
Padre.
131
Mrs Hugh M. Atkinson
4534 Bellevue Drive
Vancouver.
B.C. Canada
My dear Mrs. Edmondson.
I was pleased pleased to get your
letter & on writing to you last I now find
that I had omitted the last page, later I
found it in my writing material.
So much is in our papers regarding your son
I feel I know him too. It is not
difficult to understand why your son
had the inner greatness to fulfill such a
magnificent destiny. I see evidence of
this in knowing you and in every line
of your letters. Your reward has come to you
Dear Mrs Edmondson — your boy has reached
the summit. A glorious star went home,
May I add so truly of Jack.
"To a young soldier"
"A Hero in the mould of other days
Fearless, and yet so simple in your ways
We scarcely guessed the greatness of
your heart"
With a heart ache and much love to you
Florence Atkinson.

132
Q.V. 1324.
2/3 Field Co.
R.A.E.
Dear Mrs Edmondson
I am enclosing the
snaps, also one of the Tobruk
Cemetery from a distance.
You have so many close up's
It breaks my heart to enclose
it, but it is war.
John was no ordinary son,
no ordinary man. he was sent
to us for a purpose. That
purpose fulfilled he left us on
another Easter day. The lads
here say they were the better for
his being. He. came with that
wonderful smile always and
just lifted them up.
His morals Mrs Edmondson
were very high indeed & he
unconsciously carried up all
his contacts. He was a man
among men.
'God rest his soul' and bless
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you & your husband greatly
We await the day when we can
get home again, and I hope I
may get sufficient time whilst
there, to see you before going
on to Queensland, and I suppose
more war. which does not seem
like desert warfare again
With best wishes and Kindest
regards to Mr. Edmondson.
love Tom
(Halloran)