Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Thomas Boyce Edmonds, at 38 years of age, was one of the oldest of the Auburn Memorial men. A labourer, he was one of the first to enlist, signing the oath of allegiance on 1 September 1914.
Edmonds indicated on his enlistment form he had served 7 years in the 47th and 81st Regiments of Foot in India and a newspaper report of Edmond’s death stated he had seen service before in South Africa. The same report, ‘Auburn’s First Volunteer Killed’, in The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 18 September 1915, p12, says Edmonds was ‘well known in Auburn and popular amongst his mates’. Note: the heading 'Auburn's First Volunteer Killed' is not correct.
As is common among the service records of those who enlisted in the first few months of the war, there are gaps in Edmond’s records, so while he embarked from Australia on the Euripidies on 20 October 1914, it is not entirely clear when he arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsular. The newspaper report quoted above indicates he was there at the landing on 25 April 1915 and that in July 1915 he was wounded and taken back to a hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Recovered, Edmonds returned to the front and was killed in action on 20 August 1915 during the Battle of Lone Pine. Edmonds was buried in the Lone Pine Cemetery on the Gallipoli peninsular.
On enlistment, Edmonds had nominated his sister, Lucy Robinson of 2 Marion Street, Auburn, as his next-of-kin. As Edmonds’ medals were sent to Lucy, we can tell he was single, had no children, that his parents were deceased and that he had no brothers.
Thomas Edmonds is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
- 1914-1915 Star
