Edgeley, Adolphus Bert


No.1737, Private, Adolphus Bert EDGELEY
Aged 24


3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment, Australian Infantry
Killed in Action between 7th and 12th August 1915


Adolphus Bert Edgeley was born in Wickhambrook (Risbridge Q2-1891 4A:729), son of James and Betsy Jane EDGELEY (née SHAVE).

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Mole Hill, Wickhambrook with his father James EDGELEY [48] shoemaker; his mother Betsy Jane [47]; brothers Major Gascoigne [13] and Harold [7]. All were born in Wickhambrook.

1911 census...Aged 19, a shepherd, he was still at Mole Hill with his parents and brother Harold (farm labourer).

His brother Major Gascoigne Edgeley [23], farm labourer, was at Ingham Dairy with his wife Florence [23]; son Douglas [3] and daughter Annie [11 months], and was killed in 1917 in France and is commemorated on the Culford Estate memorial see here

He sailed for Melbourne from London on 21st October 1911 aboard the SS "Gothic", trade given as carpenter. It may be that his brother Harold Edgeley sailed from London to Brisbane on the SS"Ophir" on 20th June 1913.


Unusually for the Australian archives there is not much about him, 37 pages, but many copies of the same pages. His brother Harold was writing from c/o A B Webster, Whinstones House, Whinstones, Brisbane on 30th March 1916 trying to find out if Adolphus was alive. It appears reports from the Turks regarding prisoners were slower than the corresponding procedures with Germany, but eventually he was officially presumed dead between 7th and 12th August 1915.

He attested on 6th January 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales, giving his age as 23 years 8 months, next of kin, father James Edgeley, Molehill, Wickhambrook. He was a labourer, single, 5 feet 5 inches (166.4 cm)tall, weighed 152 lbs (68.9kg), chest 33.5" to 36.5" (85.1 to 92.7 cm), brown eyes, dark hair, Church of England.
He embarked on the HMAT "Shropshire" in Sydney on 17th March 1915 and taken on the strength of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment on 31st May 1915. He was last in 15 Platoon, "D" Company, 3rd battalion.

At this time, during fighting at Lone Pine, 7 Australians won the Victoria Cross within 3 days.

The Bury Free Press of 21st October 1916 reported:-
WICKHAMBROOK MAN'S DEATH WITH THE Australians

Mr. and Mrs. James Edgeley, of Mole Hill, have received from the Australian War Office (Victoria)the sad intelligence that their second son, Prvt Adolphus Edgeley, who was reported missing, is now reported to have been killed in action at the Dardanelles between August7th and 12th, 1915. accompanying the announcement was a letter signed by Mr Lloyd George, assuring them of the true sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen.In October, 1911, Prvt A.Edgeley emigrated to Australia. When the war broke out he answered the call of his KIng and Country and joined the Australian Imperial Forces (Third Battalion Infantry). Much sympathy is felt in the village for his parents, who have two other sons in the Army


photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Adolphus Edgeley is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, panel 20

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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