Author: Edwin Habben O.A.M. R.F.D.
Private Sidney Eric Edwards was born at London, England, on 28th June 1888, the son of Mr and Mrs W.L. Edwards. At the age of 53 years and 6 months he was mobilized into the Australian Military Force at Ipswich in Queensland on 6th January 1942. At the time of his mobilization he was married, employed as a Grocer and resided at Toowoomba Road, Rosewood. He gave his next of kin as his wife, Mrs Rosea Edwards, who resided at the same address. His physical description at the time of his mobilization was that he had slightly grey hair and blue eyes. He stated that he was of the Church of England religion.
Private Sidney Edwards was allotted the regimental number of Q108869 and allocated to the 9th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps. He was admitted to the 6th Casualty Clearing Station at Ipswich suffering from bronco pneumonia on 6th May 1942 and he remained a patient at the Casualty Clearing Station until 16th May 1942 when he rejoined his battalion. He was medically boarded at the General Details Depot at Brisbane on 25th August 1942 and medically downgraded by the Deputy Director of Medical Services. He was discharged from the Australian Military Force on 9th October 1942 as being medically unfit and granted a certificate of discharge that stated the reason for his discharge as: “Medically unfit not occurring by own default”. He died from war caused injuries on 31st January 1945 and his remains were cremated. His name is commemorated on Panel No. 96 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and on the Queensland Cremation Memorial at Lutwyche Cemetery in Brisbane.
