WWI Stories – Edward James Edgley
Fitzroy
Fiona Archer shares the story of great uncle Edward James Edgley.
Edward James Edgley, known as “Eddy” was born in 1894 in Fitzroy, had a twin sister Alice and lived at 209 Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy. His parents were Frederick and Caroline Edgley . Eddy married Sylvia Leta Maclean, and had a daughter Jean. He was a bootmaker at the time of enlistment. As a Lance Corporal in the 7th Section, No. 2 Platoon, he enlisted on 17 August 1914 and embarked Melbourne on 19 October 1914 on the Hororata. He was wounded in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, listed as missing, and finally classified KIA. Corporal A. E. Young, 146, 6th Battalion described him as “a big fellow, well-built, aged about 20. Was very popular, always singing rag-times”.
Edward was my grand uncle. My mother’s father, Albert Charles Edgley (also a bootmaker, as were most of the men in the family) was Edward’s brother. I did not know anything about him until I started researching family history several years ago.
