Mary Wade Family

John 'Jack' Hurst Edmondson, 1914–1941 (aged 26 years)

Name
John 'Jack' Hurst /Edmondson/
Given names
John 'Jack' Hurst
Surname
Edmondson
Source citation: @Jeff Robinson@
Family with parents
father
Birth: 3 April 1883 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Marriage: 17 July 1912 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Farmer
Death: 27 July 1958 — Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Maude Elizabeth Hurst John 'Jack' Hurst Edmondson
William Joseph Edmondson
1883–1958
Birth: 3 April 1883 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Death: 27 July 1958 — Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
mother
Birth: 8 June 1885 49 43 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Marriage: 17 July 1912 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Death: 28 October 1961 — Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse William Joseph Edmondson John 'Jack' Hurst Edmondson
Maude Elizabeth Hurst
1885–1961
Birth: 8 June 1885 49 43 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Death: 28 October 1961 — Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Marriage — 17 July 1912 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
2 years
himself
Birth: 8 October 1914 31 29 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Death: 14 April 1941 — Tobruk, Libya
Burial: Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya
Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships
John 'Jack' Hurst Edmondson
1914–1941
Birth: 8 October 1914 31 29 — Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Death: 14 April 1941 — Tobruk, Libya
Name
Source citation: @Jeff Robinson@
Note

War II Victoria Cross winner. Tony Stephens reports.
When Australia's prime minister, Robert Menzies, read the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, Jack Edmondson immediately packed his gear for battle. His mother, Maude, asked what he would do in a tight place, say a bayonet charge. She said she hated the bayonet. "We all loathe it," he said, but "I know how to use it."
Mother: "Jack, never any decorations." Son, seriously: "No, mother, I want to come back."
On his last night at home, they had supper together and warmed themselves at the fire. He opened the piano, played the Maori Farewell, closed the piano, tidied the family books and went to bed. He sailed the next day on the Queen Mary.
Maude Edmondson wrote in her diary on April 14, 1941: "I shall never forget today. It started off so badly with Ada trying to take me to the [Royal Easter] Show ... and to make it worse Stuffy [the cat] for some reason joined in. He came and simply howled then ran from room to room. I had to put him out." She wrote on April 18: "Nothing going right yet ... went to the doctor ... he did nothing ... fighting terrific in Greece and North Africa not so good. I dread the casualty lists

"Account in the Herald of heavy fighting and much use of bayonet at Tobruk. Also gives an account of a charge in which a lieutenant and corporal took prominent parts on Easter Sunday night. Of course no names ... but I know the corporal is Jack ... I know also that all is not well with Jack. It was wet all day and Stuffy hasn't turned up yet."
On April 25, Anzac Day, Maude Edmondson rose early and made two rich fruitcakes for Jack. She packed one in a tin and filled the empty spaces with chocolates. "I am feeling afraid of something," she wrote. "Had a couple of brandies ..."
On April 26, Maude Edmondson received a telegram from the army minister, Percy Spender: "It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was killed in action on the 14th April ..."
Jack Edmondson had died on the day his mother had already said was so bad she would never forget it, the day Stuffy ran away. He died after an act of "outstanding resolution and leadership and conspicuous bravery" that won him a Victoria Cross, Australia's first of World War II.