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Bacchus Marsh
Avenue of Honour

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Surnames beginning with [ ] - Results 281

Private Edwin Orton

Service No.:
2277
Unit:
59th Battalion
Tree No.:
N201
Planted by:
Mrs E McDonald
Image of plaque on tree N201 for Edwin Orton
See Notes (1)
Image of Service Medal - 1914-15 Star Image of Service Medal - British War Medal Image of Service Medal - Victory Medal

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, 2nd Reinforcements, 6th Battalion on the 27th 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 25th 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 1st 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 18th Reinforcements, 6th Battalion, however in October he was with the 59th 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 65th Battalion for six months, after which he transferred back to the 59th 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.

Group portrait of the band of the 59th Battalion
click to enlarge
Group portrait of the band of the 59th Battalion
Edwin is in the back row third from the left
Courtesy of the AWM

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

Location of Tree Number N201

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Last updated by lee, Sun, 02 May 2021 15:46:15