[Index]
John Hurst EDMONDSON (1914 - 1941)
Soldier, Victoria Cross
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
John Hurst EDMONDSON (1914 - 1941) Joseph William EDMONDSON (1883 - 1958)











Maude Elizabeth HURST (1885 - 1961) John HURST (1836 - 1922) John HURST (1816 - 1903)
Sarah BURDETT (1816 - 1887)
Keturah ANGEL (1841 - 1932) Henry ANGEL (1791 - 1881)
Mary BROOKER (1812 - 1890)
John Hurst EDMONDSON
John Hurst EDMONDSON
John Hurst EDMONDSON John Hurst EDMONDSON
b. 08 Oct 1914 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
d. 14 Apr 1941 at Tobruk, Lybia aged 26
Near Relatives of John Hurst EDMONDSON (1914 - 1941)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather John HURST 06 Apr 1836 Laughton, Leicestershire, England 14 May 1922 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 86
Grandmother Keturah ANGEL 05 Oct 1841 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 22 Nov 1932 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 91

Father Joseph William EDMONDSON 1883 Temora, New South Wales, Australia 27 Jul 1958 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia 75
Mother Maude Elizabeth HURST 08 Jun 1885 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 28 Oct 1961 76

Self John Hurst EDMONDSON 08 Oct 1914 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 14 Apr 1941 Tobruk, Lybia 26

Aunt Mary Jane HURST 14 Apr 1861 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 09 Feb 1954 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 92
Uncle George Henry PEACOCK 26 Apr 1866 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 26 May 1956 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 90
Uncle Henry HURST 02 Feb 1863 Balranald, New South Wales, Australia 28 Nov 1906 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 43
Aunt Elizabeth Sarah PEACOCK 1862 Camden, New South Wales, Australia 25 Mar 1886 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 24
Aunt Mary BOYTON
Uncle Charles George HURST 04 Jun 1865 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 30 Sep 1924 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 59
Aunt Sarah Ann MCLEAN 10 Mar 1871 Malebo, New South Wales, Australia 04 Aug 1948 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 77
Uncle Robert John HURST 22 Aug 1867 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 17 Nov 1960 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 93
Aunt Florence PEACOCK 12 Jul 1871 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 22 May 1939 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 67
Uncle George HURST 05 Sep 1869 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 31 Mar 1929 Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia 59
Aunt Maria GANNON
Uncle Albert HURST 20 Aug 1872 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 29 Sep 1959 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 87
Aunt Alice Margaret Emma HURST 25 Nov 1873 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 19 Feb 1945 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 71
Uncle Arthur HURST 28 Jul 1874 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 02 Feb 1968 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 93
Aunt Mary Jane WELLS
Uncle Walter James HURST 24 Dec 1876 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 03 Jun 1934 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 57
Aunt Charlotte Alice MILLER
Aunt Eliza Alice HURST 23 Apr 1879 Oura, New South Wales, Australia 11 Dec 1936 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 57
Uncle Ezekiel George WELLS
Aunt Ada May HURST 11 Oct 1881 Oura, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle George A MCLEAR
Uncle Frederick William HURST 04 Jun 1888 Oura, New South Wales, Australia
Aunt Annie Veronica HANLEY

Cousin Albert William Alfred HURST Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia Young, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin John Frederick HURST 12 Sep 1891 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Edward Charles HURST 1893 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 09 Jan 1973 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 80
Cousin Mabel Muriel HURST 25 Dec 1896 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Thelma Maude HURST 02 Jan 1903 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Gordon Keith HURST 1906 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Events in John Hurst EDMONDSON (1914 - 1941)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
08 Oct 1914 John Hurst EDMONDSON was born Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 62
14 Apr 1941 26 John Hurst EDMONDSON died Tobruk, Lybia 62
04 Jul 1941 26 Gazetted for VC 62
Source References:
62. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Title: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition, Publ: ANU, Locn: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/adbonline.htm
- Reference = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edmondson-john-hurst-10099 (Death)
- Reference = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edmondson-john-hurst-10099 (Other Event)
- Reference = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edmondson-john-hurst-10099 (Name, Notes)
- Notes: John Hurst Edmondson (1914–1941)
by Ian Grant
John Hurst Edmondson (1914-1941), soldier, was born on 8 October 1914 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, only child of native-born parents Joseph William Edmondson, farmer, and his wife Maude Elizabeth, née Hurst. The family moved to a farm near Liverpool when Jack was a child. Educated at Hurlstone Agricultural High School, he worked with his father and became a champion rifle-shooter. He was a council-member of the Liverpool Agricultural Society and acted as a steward at its shows. Having served (from March 1939) in the 4th Battalion, Militia, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 20 May 1940 and was posted to the 2nd/17th Battalion. Later that month he was promoted acting corporal (substantive in November). Well built and about 5 ft 9 ins (175 cm) tall, Edmondson settled easily into army life and was known as a quiet but efficient soldier.

His battalion embarked for the Middle East in October and trained in Palestine. In March 1941 the 2nd/17th moved with other components of the 9th Division to Libya and reached Marsa Brega before an Axis counter-attack forced them to retreat to Tobruk. The siege of the fortress began on 11 April. Two days later the Germans probed the perimeter, targeting a section of the line west of the El Adem Road near Post R33. This strong-point was garrisoned by the 2nd/17th's No.16 Platoon in which Edmondson was a section leader. The enemy intended to clear the post as a bridgehead for an armoured assault on Tobruk.

Under cover of darkness thirty Germans infiltrated the barbed wire defences, bringing machine-guns, mortars and two light field-guns. Lieutenant Austin Mackell, commanding No.16 Platoon, led Edmondson's five-man section in an attempt to repel the intruders. Armed with rifles, fixed bayonets and grenades, the party of seven tried to outflank the Germans, but were spotted by the enemy who turned their machine-guns on them. Unknown to his mates, Edmondson was severely wounded in the neck and stomach. Covering fire from R33 ceased at the pre-arranged time of 11.45 p.m. and Mackell ordered his men to charge. Despite his wounds, Edmondson accounted for several enemy soldiers and saved Mackell's life. When the remaining Germans fled, the Australians returned to their lines. Although Edmondson was treated for his wounds, he died before dawn on 14 April 1941. The Germans' armoured attack that morning was thwarted, partly due to the earlier disruption of their plans. Edmondson was buried in Tobruk war cemetery. He had not married.

His Victoria Cross, gazetted on 4 July, was the first awarded to a member of Australia's armed forces in World War II. In April 1960 Mrs Edmondson gave her son's medals to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, where they are displayed alongside his portrait (1958) by Joshua Smith. At Liverpool a public clock commemorates Edmondson, as do the clubrooms used by the sub-branch of the Returned Services League of Australia.
- Reference = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edmondson-john-hurst-10099 (Birth)
Created on a Mac™ using iFamily for Mac™ on 2 May 2025