John Edward (Jack) Edney
Name John Edward (Jack) Edney
Number Private 2625A
Battalion 59th Battalion
Place of Birth Rochford near Lancefield
Next of Kin His father, Alfred Edward Edney of Leongatha
Date and place of enlistment Melbourne 19/7/1915
Physical details on enlistment Age 23 years 2 months 5’5” 10 stone 4 pounds, light brown eyes and light brown hair
Religion Church of England
Occupation Grocer
Date and place of death
He was killed in action on the 19/7/1916 at Fleirbaix, Fromelles
Location of grave or memorial
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Memorial at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial Fromelles
Relationship to Woorayl Shire
He was a member of the Edney family of Leongatha
Military History
- He was a past student of Leongatha State School
- He was a senior cadet for 2 years
- 19/7/15 He enlisted
- He was first in the 58th Battalion and then the 59th
- 29/2/16 He joined his first unit at Tel el Kebir Egypt
- 18/3/16 He transferred to 59th
- 18/5/16 He embarked Alexandria on the Kinfauns Castle
- 29/5/15 He disembarked Marseilles
- 29/8/17 There was an inquiry into death
Presumed buried in no mans land grid given for Hazebrock Sheet
Report
Pte Edney was in my section of the 59th Battalion Grenadiers. He went out with us on the 19th of July 1916. A shell burst close to us and I am fairly sure he was blown to pieces through a piece of shell exploding the grenades in his bag. Pte Chapman could give more conclusive evidence on the matter.
Dated at Verne Citadel on this 18th Day of August 1917
Signed Lance Corporal H S Critten
Statement made and signed before me Lt. M McGregor
Note a statement written by Pte. Chapman at Weymouth 28/8/17
- Page 25 of his file has a letter from Jack’s father
- His will is on page 30 of his file. It is a very interesting will signed by Herbert Hyland and he had an insurance policy
- His father applied for a death certificate so they can apply for probate and apply for the insurance