ABLE SEAMAN ALBERT JOHN EDWARDS 1712 RAN
Bert Edwards was born at Woollahra NSW in January 1897, the son of Austin and Sarah Edwards. He enlisted in the RAN in June 1912 as a member of the first intake of boys on HMAS Tingira. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class in March 1913 and posted to the Light Cruiser HMAS Melbourne in May of that year. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on his 17th birthday, however four months later he deserted from Melbourne.
At the outbreak of the Great War an amnesty was granted to men who had deserted, and Bert availed himself of this and turned himself in to HMAS Cerberus on the 24th of August 1914. He did not lose any seniority and was rated as an Ordinary Seaman on his 18th birthday and to Able Seaman six months later. After brief postings to HMAS Una and HMAS Fantome he joined the protected cruiser HMAS Psyche in July 1915 for 12 months serving in the Far East.
In July 1916 he transferred to the Torpedo Boat destroyer HMAS Warrego before returning to Australia in February 1917, possibly on medical grounds as he was discharged “Invalided” twelve months later.
In March 1923 Bert married Lillian Crawford in Tamworth NSW and their only child Harold was born in July 1924. On leaving the navy Bert worked as a seaman living in Sydney.
By 1938 Bert was a resident of the Lady Davidson Veteran Affairs hospital in Turramurra NSW. On the 2nd of September 1938 he was knocked down by a motorcycle. He was taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Able Seaman Albert John Edwards is buried in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Methodist New 5A_ZoneF/#/569
