Fishwick, Edward Dudley

2166 Private Edward Dudley Fishwick - 4th Machine Gun Battalion AIF

Edward Dudley Fishwick was born in Fremantle WA in 1882 to William and Elizabeth Fishwick. He was one of four children, with, Ada (1877), Alfred (1879) and Ellen (1891). The family lived in Arundel Street Fremantle.

Edward's father William was the landlord of the Star Hotel in Fremantle. (now 11 Essex Street).

Edward was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up employment with the WA Government Railways. He was employed as a junior porter at Northam. He then took on a role as a Shunter in Geraldton in 1907 before taking on the same role in Fremantle in 1910.

His father died in Claremont in 1913 and Edward moved north to Broome to try his hand at pearling though when he enlisted in the Great War, he still listed his occupation as Railway Employee.

On the 12th April 1915 Edward enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He listed his sister Ada in Northam as his next of kin. Edward was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 147lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After successfully enlisting in Broome, Edward and a few others who enlisted at the same time were sent to Perth where they were then forwarded on to Blackboy Hill Camp. Edward was then assigned to the 6th Reinforcements to the 12th Battalion AIF.

He trained in WA for the next two months but on the 25th June 1915 Edward and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Wandilla in Fremantle Harbour and then set sail for Egypt. One of his Broome mates was Victor Kepert with whom he had a photo taken (pictured below-courtesy of Fishwick family)

After arriving in Egypt four weeks later, Edward did not spend much time there but was sent straight on to Gallipoli where he joined the 12th Battalion on the 6th August 1915. The following day the 12th Battalion was drawn into the fighting at Lone Pine. Initially the 12th Battalion men were used to evacuated the many casualties but were then also drawn into the fighting and holding the positions captured by the 1st & 2nd Brigades.

Edward came through this battle unscathed and the 12th Battalion continued to hold the southern sector of the Anzac battlefield. On the 26th August Edward was evacuated to the beach hospital with a septic foot but only spent five days there before returning to the 12th Battalion.

Edward then remained with the 12th Battalion for the rest of the Gallipoli campaign. The 12th Battalion returned to Egypt in early January 1916 and then began training and taking on reinforcements. In February 1916 Edward had a few bouts of sickness and was sent to hospital with mumps.

He had just returned to the 12th Battalion at the end of February 1916, when he was transferred to the newly established 52nd Battalion on the 3rd March 1916. Edward then spent two weeks with the 52nd Battalion but on the 16th March 1916 was transferred to the newly forming unit called the 13th Machine Gun Company. This was the machine gun company that would support the infantry operations of the 13th Brigade.

Edward trained with this group in Egypt for the next few months. On the 5th June 1916 they departed from Egypt and set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 12th June 1916. The men were then disembarked and sent to the north of France near Armentieres. They would have their first experience of the Western Front in this sector.

In July 1916 Edward was hospitalised with tonsilitis though he rejoined them on the 3rd August 1916, just in time for their action at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. Edward came through the actions here through August and September 1916 safely.

They then went to Belgium for several weeks before returning to the Somme battlefield in November 1916. They then spent the 1916/17 French winter on this battlefield.

In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British units followed this withdrawal closely and several sharp engagements were fought. Edward and his machine gun company were involved around Vaulx Vraucourt in March 1917 and in the capture of Noreuil village on April 2nd 1917. Edward came through this action safely.

In June 1917 the 13th Machine Gun Company were sent to Messines in Belgium to take part in the current offensive taking place there. They were here till August 1917.

In September 1917 Edward and his unit were sent to Ypres were they saw action around Polygon Wood and Broodseinde Ridge in September and October 1917. However on the 3rd October 1917 Edward was evacuated ill. He was initially sent to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and was then taken to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers. They could not diagnose what was wrong so described it as a 'PUO' or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. Edward was at Camiers for two weeks and as his condition was not improving he was sent to England. On arrival he was sent to County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury.

Edward spent a month at Napsbury and then on the 19th November 1917 was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He remained here till the 5th December 1917. His health now improved, Edward was granted two weeks furlough from 5th to 19th December 1917. He was then sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. Edward would wait in England till his health improved but to exacerbate matters he was soon hospitalised with a mild venereal disease which necessitated ten days in Hospital.

From January to March 1918 Edward was put on duty at Hurdcott Camp and was made a Temporary Sergeant.

On the 11th May 1918 Edward got married in England to Elsie Scarborough at the Saint Augustine Church at Slade Green Crayford Kent.

In August 1918 he reverted back to the rank of Private but continued his work at No.4 Command Depot Camp. He was working here till the 1st November 1918 when he reported to the AIF HQ and was put to work at the AIF Canteen Service. He was then promoted to Temporary Corporal. Edward worked for the AIF Canteen service in London through to the end of July 1919.

He was then earmarked for return home and with his wife they boarded the ship Katoomba on the 8th August 1919. Edward and Elsie disembarked in Fremantle on the 15th September 1919. Edward was then discharged on the 15th November 1919.

After their return home, a son William Birdwood Fishwick was born in Northam in 1920.

Edward was the manager of the Palace Theatre in Northam. In about 1925 he then went to work for the roads board in the Northam district.

Edward Dudley Fishwick died in Northam in 1927. He was buried in Northam Cemetery.

The Northam Advertiser on the 9th April 1927 had a small article on Edward;

DEATH OF MR. E. FISHWICK.

Genuine regret was expressed on Thursday when it was learned that Mr. Edward Fishwick had expired that morning at the Northam Hospital.
Shortly after 8 a.m. he was found by Mr. H. Newman, lying on the road near the Northam Brewery in an unconscious condition. The sufferer was hurriedly taken to the hospital where he expired at about 10.30.
He showed every symptom of having suffered from the effects of a poison. For some time the late Mr. Fishwick had been working for the Main Road Board near Clackline. On Tuesday he was engaged in distributing pegs from a moving motor lorry when a sudden jolt threw him to the roadway. He was picked up and later brought to his home in Burgoyne-st. and advised to "lay up," as it was thought he had sustained a slight concussion. He scouted the idea, however, and expressed the opinion he was alright, and on Wednesday he appeared to be well on the way to recovery. On Thursday morning he left his home at about 5 o'clock with the intention of obtaining a ride by motor to his work. Some hours later he was discovered in an unconscious condition near the brewery.