Private James Whitaker Edmondson.
1752 1st Australian Army.
Died 2nd July 1915, aged 31.
Brother of Herbert Edmondson (see separate entry)
James was born 20 April 1884 Burnley, the first son of Robert Whitaker Edmondson and Margaret Alice Ryan .
In the 1891 Census the family consisted of Robert Whitaker Edmondson 31 spinner, Margaret Alice Edmondson 27 Cotton winder, James 7, William Wilson Edmondson 5, Herbert 2, Joseph Francis 6 months, living at 100 Albert St.
1901 Census states the family was, Robert Whitaker 41 ,newsagent, Margaret Alice 37, James Whitaker 17 apprentice painter, William Wilson 15 apprentice plumber, Herbert 12 newsboy, Jospeh 10, Leo 7, Mary 5, Bernard 3, Thomas 8 months living at 13 Lyndhurst Rd, Burnley.
On the 20 April 1907 James Whittaker Edmondson 22, bachelor, house painter (journeyman) married and was living at 14 (or 111) Thursfield Rd Burnley, Father was Robert Edmondson, newsagent. Married to Sarah Ellen Isherwood, 22, spinster, confectioner 53 Victoria Street Blackburn, her father was Thomas Isherwood (deceased), house furnisher. Both signed in the presence of Thomas Harrison and Margaret Harrison by License at Blackburn Lancs Registry Office by William Tyrell Registrar.
According to Australian Infantry Force Record Project, James was 27 when he went to Australia which would make it 1911. And we have confirmation of this through a ships register which states that the following people sailed:
Edmondson James, Sarah, Bernard and Elaine sailed from London to Freemantle and arrived Jan 1911 on the ship Ophir.
1914-18 WW1 Gallipoli, during ANZAC Military Operation, part of Australian 1st Division Infantry, 11th battalion Private 1752 James Whittaker Edmondson, buried at Lone Pine Cemetery, Dardanelles, Turkey.
From the Burnley News 26 June 1915; BURNLEY FAMILY’S RECORD: FIVE SONS WITH THE FORCES.
Another striking instance of a Burnley family’s patriotism is provided by the five sons of Mr Robert Edmondson newsagent, Olympia St two of whom were in Australia at the outbreak of the war - who have responded to the call to service of King and Country. The eldest of the five Mr. Jas Whittaker Edmondson is 30 years of age, married with four children. He had been in Australia about six years, but on the outbreak of the war along with his brother, Mr William Wilson Edmondson aged 27 who had been with him in that country for about 5 years, he joined the Australian contingent, and is now fighting in defence of the motherland. The third son, Herbert Edmondson aged 26 who’s wife resides in Coal Clough-lane, joined Lord Derby’s County Palatine Brigade, and he is training in St. Annes, while another, Leo Aloyious Edmondson aged 22, is at Sheerness. The youngest of the five, Bernard Vaughan Edmondson is 19 years of age and training with the Royal Welsh Field Artillery in Wales
James was killed in action on the 2nd July 1915.
From the Burnley News dated Wed 4 Aug 1915; Well Known in Burnley: Private J W Edmondson Killed;
Amongst the latest officially published casualties in the Australian Imperial Force, appears the name of Private J W Edmondson (1752) A company of the 11th Bn Infantry 3rd brigade A T F., as killed. Private Edmondson is well known in Burnley, being the eldest son of Mr R W Edmondson, newsagent of Olympia St. He went to Australia about 6 yrs ago and had been very successful there. he is 30 yrs of age and marries and has 4 children. on the outbreak of war he along with his brother William, who has been in Australia about 5 yrs, volunteered for active service and were included in one of the early Australian contingents. Private J W Edmondson has been in the thick of the fighting in the Gallipoli Peninsula for some time, and a week or two ago his father received a very cheery letter from him. he said that the food they were getting was good considering they were in the trenches, in a touching reference to his little sisters at home he said " Tell them I will send them a nice present when I get back to civilisation." He concluded his letter by stating that he was that afternoon just going into the firing line again and he would seem to have been killed almost immediately after he had dispatched the letter. Private Edmondson has 4 brothers serving with the colours.
From the Express and Advertiser dated 7th Aug 1915; A Burnley Australian:
Among the Killed List; it is officially announce that Pte. James Whittaker Edmondson of the Australian Imperial Force has been killed in the Dardenelles. Pte. J W Edmondson is well known in Burnley, being the eldest son of Mr R W Edmondson, newsagent of 30 Olympia St. He went to Australia about 6 yrs ago and had been very successful there. he is 30 yrs of age and marries and has 4 children. on the outbreak of war he along with his brother William, who has been in Australia about 5 yrs, volunteered for active service and were included in one of the early Australian contingents. Private J W Edmondson has been in the thick of the fighting in the Gallipoli Peninsula for some time, and a week or two ago his father received a very cheery letter from him. he said that the food they were getting was good considering they were in the trenches, in a touching reference to his little sisters at home he said " Tell them I will send them a nice present when I get back to civilisation." He concluded his letter by stating that he was that afternoon just going into the firing line again and he would seem to have been killed almost immediately after he had dispatched the letter. Private Edmondson has 4 brothers serving in the army, William (28) enlisted in May and is with the Australian Force in the Dardenelles. Herbert Edmondson (27) is in Yorkshire with the R F A. having enlisted 3 months ago. before the war he was employed by Messrs Parkinson wholesale druggists. The other 2 brothers worked on the Burnley Corporation Tramways and enlisted within a short time of each other. Leo Aloyious Edmondson (22) is in a Home Defence Corps Sheerness and Bernard Vaughan Edmondson of the Royal Welsh Field Artillery, is now in Winchester.
From the Australian Roll Of Honour; James Whittaker Edmondson 11th Bn 1752, West Leederville, Perth, West Australia, Born Burnley Lancs, England, died 2 Jul 1915, formerly a painter, 31yrs old at death, schooled at St Mary's R C Burnley Lancs, England, aged 27 yrs on arrival in Australia served in the 17th Lancers prior to WW1. Next of kin S E Edmondson, wife, c/o 9 Blencoe St, West Leederville, and W W Edmondson, late of the A I F, 183 Railway Rd Subiaco, West Australia.
James was buried Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipolli: Edmondson, Pte James Whittaker, 1752, 11th Bn A I F Killed in action 2nd July 1915, aged 31 son of Robert Whittaker Edmondson and Margaret Alice Edmondson; husband of Mrs S E Edmondson of ( Blencoe St Leederville, West Aus. Native of Burnley Lancs, England Grave Ref. I H 6
Below taken from the Briercliffe Society:
Private James Whittaker Edmondson was the son of Robert Whittaker Edmondson and Margaret Alice Edmondson. He was the husband of Mrs. S. E. Edmondson, of 9 Blencoe Street, Leederville, Western Australia.
He was a native of Burnley. Commonwealth War Graves Commission, A Burnley Australian. Among the killed list Burnley Express 7 August 1915.
From James’ service record: Enlisted 8th Jan 1915, stated his apprenticeship as a Painter was with a Mr Aspinall (possibly the Aspinall's who married Elizabeth Appleton, My Aunty Bess), he was at the time living at 3 Glen St West Leederville and his next of kin was his Wife Sarah. He was previously in the 11th Lancers for 1 year but he bought himself out. His physical description was; 5ft 8.25 inches, 130lbs complexion as sallow, eyes, hazel, hair as dark brown and his religion as R.C. On the 16 Feb 1915 he was posted to A Coy, 4th Reinf 11th Bn from the depot corps. Embarked on the Argyllshire in Freemantle on the 19th April 1915 and was in Gallipoli on the 19th June 1915 taken on strength from the 4th reinforcements to the 11th Bn 3rd Infantry Brigade, where he was Killed in action and was buried at Victoria Gully No 1, group 7, which was half a mile South east of Anzac. His body, on the 10th May 1920, was then later exhumed and re buried in Browns Dip Cemetery, plot 1 row h grave 6. Anzac about 500 yds south of Anzac Cove. Again his body, 18th April 1923, was re-exhumed and moved to Lone Pine cemetery Anzac 13 miles S E of Anzac Cove, his family at the time where living at Essex St, Churchlands, West Leederville, W A.Sarah received 3 photos of his grave on the 18th Aug 1923.He was awarded the 1914/15 Star but it seems his wife didn't receive it till April/May 1921, she had applied for it on the 5th Aug 1920. She also received a Memorial Plaque on the 19th May 1922. - 1916 April 5th she received a package from Thomas Cook and Sons being the personal effects of James which consisted of, Gold Ring and a medallion disc. 30th Aug 1916 for his children Bernard and Ellen his wife was awarded a pension for them 20s a fortnight for Bernard and 15s a fortnight for Ellen, 10s each a fortnight for John Whittaker and Eric James and £2 a fortnight for Sarah his wife, they were living at 3 Glen St West Leederville.