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Walter Thomas Edwards Corporal Service number 33051



Walter Thomas Edwards
Corporal
Service number 33051

Older brother of Charles who featured in my previous post.

Walter was working as a station hand at Matawai in the Gisborne area of New Zealand's North Island, when he signed up for service in the NZ Expeditionary Force.

He was 27 years old when he took his army medical on the 29th of July 1916, standing not far off 5 feet 6 inches tall with blue-grey eyes and black hair.

He entered Trentham Military Camp for initial training, he was struck down with Influenza in August 1916 but continued his training later boarding ship for overseas service.

Leaving New Zealand with the 19th Reinforcements on the 15th of November 1916, which were carried aboard the ships Maunganui and Tahiti. Walter after a long journey disembarked in Devonport England on the 29th of January 1917 with his reinforcement and later marched into Sling Military Camp to continue his training.

Walter was later moved to Codford Military Camp to help form the new NZ 4th Infantry Brigade. On the 24th of April 1917, he was posted to 9th Hawkes Bay Company of the 3rd Wellington Infantry Battalion.

After a review by the King of England in early May, the new brigade was embarked for France from Southampton on the 28th of May 1917 and arrived at Le Havre aboard the ship SS Archangel, moving to a rest camp upon arrival.
Walter and the 3rd Wellington Battalion's Hawkes Bay Company were ordered to report to the frontline relieving the 36th Australian Battalion on the 11th of June 1917, this was their first experience of life in the trenches.

Later on 25th of August, Walter was promoted to Lance Corporal. After surviving the NZ attacks during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917, Walter was promoted to Corporal in November and was also detached to No4 NZ Field Company. 2 days later he was wounded in the right leg, after recovering quickly he was back with his unit 5 days later.
After service in and out of the frontline during a very cold winter of 1917/18, and  after the disbandment of the 4th NZ Brigade, Walter was transferred to the 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade on the 19th of February 1918.

He joined A Company of the 4th Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade on the 25th of April 1918. During a trench relief on the 25th of May 1918, Walter was severely wounded in action, he was evacuated from the battlefield by the 3rd NZ Field Ambulance and was taken to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital where his wounds were too great and he passed away the following day on the 26th of May 1918.

He is buried at Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2, Somme, France.

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