John Harold Mckenzie Edwards MC DCM MM (1894 - 1942)

Born 1894 in Terang, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 48 in At Sea

Biography

Harold Edwards MC DCM MM is Notable.

Harold Edwards MC DCM MM was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Harold Edwards MC DCM MM died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

John Harold Edwards was born in 1894 in Terang, Victoria, Australia and, according to his wife was the son of Thomas Edwards, an architect and his wife Charlotte, nee Mackenzie. He was actually the son of Charlotte Agnes EDWARDS.

John served in the AIF during WW1 from 1915 to 1919 and won a Military Medal at Gallipoli, Distinguished Conduct Medal at Mouquet Farm in 1916 where he was wounded, and Military Cross in 1918 when he was wounded (severely) for a second time. He was also Mentioned in Despatches. He finished the War as a Lieutenant.

John moved to the Territory of New Guinea around 1920 and after a period instructing the Native Constabulary in Rabaul and chasing gold, he worked as the supervisor of native labour on New Britain for the Burns Philip company in Rabaul.

He married Susan Jean Mackenzie in Rabaul around 1935. There were no children.

John was a Lieutenant in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles ( Militia Unit) (No. NG 4053) from 1939, but he was not serving with them at the time of the Japanese invasion in Jan 1942. He was captured at Kokopo and interned as a civilian prisoner. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

CAPT. J. H. EDWARDS, MC, DCM, MM. (1945-11-19). In Pacific islands monthly : PIM. xvi (419), 68. - https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/234093767 (with photo)

CAPT. J. H. EDWARDS, MC, DCM, MM

THERE were few more popular men in New Guinea than Captain John Harold Edwards, MC, DCM, MM, Mentioned in Despatches, who was Burns Philps’ supervisor of native labour in New Britain, and who was among the men lost on the “Montevideo Maru.” He had been 17 years with BP; and he was closely associated with the life of Rabaul - as head of the Returned Soldiers’ Sub-Branch, as Master of the Masonic Lodge, and (in the latter days) as one of the heads of the NG Volunteer Rifles. Captain Edwards was a distinguished veteran of World War I. He rose from the ranks, won all the decorations available, was especially congratulated by General Sir William Birdwood on his remarkable record, and was invested with the Military Cross by the King at Buckingham Palace in February, 1919.

After that war, he went to Rabaul as instructor of Native Constabulary; spent a few years chasing gold on the mainland of New Guinea; and then settled down in Rabaul in the BP service. His wife now is a resident of Sydney.

Research Notes

WW1 Next of Kin

• Mrs O WHITMORE (Edith Jane May EDWARDS - listed as aunt)
• Mrs Robert GREENING (Margaret Eliza EDWARDS)

Sources

• Australian Dictionary of Biography - http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edwards-john-harold-mckenzie-6094

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 24806 / 1894; Family name: EDWARDS; Given name(s): Jno Harold M; Place of event: TERANG, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Chtte; Mother's family name at birth: EDWARDS; Father's Name: Unknown

• WW1 Australian Army Service Dossier - National Archives of Australia - Edwards Harold : SERN LIEUT : POB Terang VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK Whitmore A - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=1934821

• Citizen Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 - National Archives of Australia - EDWARDS JOHN HAROLD : Service Number - NG4053 : Date of birth - Unknown : Place of birth - Unknown : Place of enlistment - Unknown : Next of Kin - EDWARDS SUSAN (physical file) - Item Barcode: 5890063

• Death Form - National Archives of Australia - Defence - General - Information of deaths for persons lost on the MONTEVIDEO MARU - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=102239&S=61

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3173265/john-harold-edwards/