V.C. HERO

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1941, Page 6

V.C. HERO

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST

TOBRUK DEFENCE EPIC

' (0.C.) SYDNEY, July 9. J Australia's first V.C. of this war ; was tragically a posthumous award ; to Corporal John Hurst Edmondson, ' 26, of Liverpool, near Sydney, for gallantry in a bayonet charge at , Tobruk in which he was mortally wounded on the night of April 13. The circumstances were thus ; described by the Army Minister, Mr. I Spender, in announcing the honour: i A party of German infantry broke through the wire defences at Tobruk 'and established themselves with at t least six' machine-guns, mortars and i small field pieces. It was decided to j attack them with bayonets, and a • party consisting of one officer, Cor- ! poral Edmondson, and five privates, | charged. Corporal Edmondson was i wounded in the neck and stomach | but continued to advance under I heavy fire. His actions throughout jthe operations were outstanding for i resolution, leadership and conspicuous bravery. It is deeply regretted that this honour should have come posthumously. Edmondson typifies the magnificent spirit that will enshrine Tobruk among the world's most heroic feats of defence." Saved Officer's Life Edmondson's battalion commanjder, Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford, wrote as follows to his parents, revealing that Edmondson's bravery had saved a lieutenant's life: "His death was surrounded by circumstances of the utmost gallantry. His i ! company was attacked by the enemy in the dark in overwhelming numbers. With his- platoon commander and six others he charged 40 of the enemy with the bayonet. Your son j was mortally wounded in this fight-j ing, but after having been wounded he answered a call for help from Lieutenant. Mackell, who had broken It is bayonet in one of the enemy and smashed the stock of his rifle on the head of another. Despite his severe wounds, your soft saved Lieutenant. Mackell's life by shooting or bayoneting three of the enemy and putting the others to flight."

Lieutenant Mackell wrote: "Jack saved my life. He will never be forgotten by his comrades. Nothing can replace your son, but such a loss only makes us more determined to defeat these Germans who know no answer but force."

Lieutenant Vincent, a West Australian, who saw the sortie, told how bravely Edmondson died, smoking a last cigarette: "I saw Edmondson. terribly wounded, rush to the aid of an officer and kill two Germans who were • menacing him. It was sneer magnificent courage. Edmondson was brought into our dugout on a stretcher. It was impossible to move him to hospital as the stretcher-bearers would have been shot down in the first few yards. Edmondson lay quietly on the stretcher, perfectly conscious. Xot once did he complain. He merely asked for a cigarette and quietly smoked away his last hours. He I was wounded about 10 p.m. and died j early next morning." How He Left Home Edmondson was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. J. Edmondson. of Liverpool. Mrs. Edmondson told reporters: 'Mohn thoroughly deserved this high honour hut he hated publicity and would have iegaided it as an honour to the whole A.I F Our boys are wonderlul. all of them. John was a verv retiring fellow who liked his books and the piano. The night before he -sailed ho sat down at the piano and 21, er . sa > T i n g good-bye, plaved the Maori Farewell." shut the piano, walked out of the house without a ! word and became a hero. But we ! always knew he was that."' I

Before he enlisted. Edmondson had been working on his parents' aim"]' , c , transferred from the Mill la to the A.I.F. He was a crack rifle shot and won the National Rifle Association's medal and other awards in his first competitive shoot in 1932. He wore the badges and buttons from the uniform of his uncle. Lieutenant J. , • Edmondson. who fought in the last war.