Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website

Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website





Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.

please scroll down to send a message

217544

Lt. Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton MM DSO MID.

Australian Imperial Force 24th Infantry Battalion

from:Australia

(d.11th Aug 1918)

Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton was born at Moonee Ponds, Victoria in 1897 to parents James and Florence. Prior to the First World War he spent seven years as a cadet. Edgerton was aged 18 and a student when he joined the 24th Infantry Battalion on 14th April 1915. On 25th of June 1915, he departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Ceramic. Two of Edgerton's cousins also served, Private Percival John Young and Second Lieutenant Harry Leslie Killingsworth.

Serving at Gallipoli, Edgerton was promoted to the rank of corporal in November 1915 and was hospitalised in December 1915. He returned to his unit in January 1916 and sent to the Western Front in France. Edgerton was awarded the Military Medal on 27 October 1916 and promoted to the rank of sergeant in November that year. 1917 brought the award of a Bar to his Military Medal on 11 May and promotions to the ranks of second lieutenant in March and lieutenant in September. In 1918, Edgerton further demonstrated his courage and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 16 September 1918 for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" in capturing several German machine gun positions.

Eric Edgerton was 21 years old when he was killed in action on 11 August 1918 in France. His death was mentioned in the despatches of Field Marshal Douglas Haig on 8th of November 1918 and he is buried at Villers-Brettoneux Military Cemetery, France



Please type your message:     

We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit.
Your Name:            
Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**