Edwards, Rhys Thomas

No.335 – Private Rhys Thomas Edwards – 44^th Battalion AIF

Rhys Thomas Edwards was born in Llandrillo Wales in 1891 to David and Jane Edwards. He attended the local and county schools and took up work as a Grocer.  In 1910 aged 19 he came out to Western Australia with his brother Hugh and took up residence in Chester Park South Fremantle. He worked for a Grocer in North Fremantle called Mr. Jones. On the 24^th January 1916 Rhys enlisted into the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height; weight of 154 lbs; chest measurement of 35-39 inches; dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.

Rhys was assigned to “B” Company of the newly forming 44^th Battalion with the regimental number 335. He trained with this unit at Claremont Camp in WA until they embarked for service overseas from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Suevic” on the 6^th June 1916. After reaching Plymouth England on the 21^st July 1916 the men were marched into the 3^rd Division Camp on the Salisbury Plains. The men were given leave during the next few months of training and on the 18^th August he overstayed his leave by 14 hours and was given 1 day of Field Punishment No.2 and fined 1 days pay. On the 25^th October Rhys was again charged with overstaying his leave by three days. He was given as a punishment 3 days of Field Punishment No.2 and the forfeiture of 6 days pay.

On the 16^th November 1916 Rhys was admitted sick to hospital and therefore missed the 44^th Battalion’s departure for France on the 25^th November. Rhys stayed at Fargo Hospital until the 1^st December 1916 when he reported to Hurdcott Camp. He was sent to France on the 20^th December 1916 and marched into the 3^rd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. On the 23^rd December Rhys was admitted to hospital at Etaples and stayed until the 16^th January. On the 26^th January 1917 Rhys was taken on strength of the 44^th Battalion.

On the 28^th April Rhys was again in trouble for failing to appear on a Battalion parade and was therefore given three days of field punishment No.2 as a result. Rhys survived the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and the next few months when the 44^th Battalion garrisoned the sector.

Their next large attack would take place on October 4^th 1917 at Broodseinde Ridge during the Third Battle of Ypres. Rhys was wounded in the hand and back and was evacuated back to the 56^th General Hospital at Etaples. Here his wound was assessed and deemed as serious enough for evacuation to England. On the 6^th October 1917 he was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital. He spent three weeks here as on the 26^th October he was transferred to the 1^st Auxiliary Hospital. On the 14^th November he was discharged from hospital and was given a period of furlough after which he would report to Weymouth Camp. Rhys reported a day late and was therefore given 7 days confined to barracks as a punishment.

Rhys’s wound was assessed and it was deemed that he would not be well enough for front line service and was then allowed to return to Australia for discharge from the AIF. On the 1^st February 1918 he boarded the H.T. “Balmoral Castle” and sailed back to Western Australia. Rhys returned to WA in late March and attempted to resume his pre war life as a Grocer but he was soon struck down by appendicitis and peritonitis. He was admitted to No.8 General Hospital in Fremantle but died on the 26^th June 1918. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery and his brother Hugh organised all the arrangements as his mother still lived in Wales.

In WW2 his nephew Hughie Edwards would be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Bomber Command.