Edwin was born in Wigstin, Leicestershire, England in 1894 - his father was F W Orton. He had been an apprentice with the Midland Railway Company for six years - probably in England - and was possibly a farmer from Parwan near Bacchus Marsh - he gives his occupation variously as, engineer, fitter or farmer - when he enlisted at Melbourne, in the AIF, 2^nd Reinforcements, 6^th Battalion on the 27^th of November 1914, aged 22. He embarked aboard the HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray in February 1915, disembarking in Egypt some time later.

Edwin landed at Gallipoli on the 25^th of April 1915. In early May he suffered a rifle wound and compound fracture to the arm and was evacuated first to Malta and then to England where he was admitted to the 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex in late June. Edwin returned to duty in Egypt in early September, possibly returning to Gallipoli. However in November he was admitted to hospital at Mudros - dysentry. In January 1916 Edwin was admitted to hospital in Cairo, Egypt, diagnosed with enteric fever. Later that month he embarked for Australia for a three months change, retuning to Australia in March and attended a welcome home at Bacchus Marsh later that month.

In July 1916 Edwin re-embarked aboard the HMAT A33 Ayrshire with the 18^th Reinforcements, 6^th Battalion, however in October he was with the 59^th Battalion in France. In late November Edwin attended a Stokes Gun school for two weeks. Edwin was evacuated to England and admitted to hospital - septic foot - in January 1917 and discharged in late February. After two weeks leave he transferred to the 65^th Battalion for six months, after which he transferred back to the 59^th Battalion in September and a month later he was with his unit in France. In February 1918 Edwin was granted leave in Paris and in October had two weeks leave in England.

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In November 1918 Edwin was a member of the band of the 59^th Battalion.

Edwin married Elizabeth Bradsworth in March 1919 before embarking for home aboard the Warwickshire two weeks later, returning to Australia in late May and discharged from the AIF in July.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. When he originally enlisted his number was 1104.
   When he re-attestested and returned to the war his number was 2277 - or R2277.