James John Kerr Edwards (1910)

Born 2 Nov 1910 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Joan Pauline (Hebblewhite) Edwards — married 1938 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

James John Kerr Edwards MBE was born on 2nd November 1910 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was a son of George Edwards and Jessie Kerr. ^[1]

He worked in the timber industry.

He married Joan Hebblewhite in 1938 at North Sydney. ^[2]

James Edwards is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1946
2/1st Australian Forestry Company

On 6th May 1940 James enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during the Second World War. He was commissioned as a Major in the 2/1st Australian Forestry Company, Royal Australian Engineers. ^[3] the two Australian forestry companies comprised experienced timbermen with a forester in charge and were deployed to France and kept up the supply of the much-needed timber for to build bridges, roads, railways, army camps and to repair bombed buildings and quarters. Some timber was even used for gliders and barges. He was discharged on 5th February 1946. ^[4] James was Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry), gazetted on 6th March 1947. ^[5] He was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #43387/1910; registered at St Leonards
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #20769/1938
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 1st Australian Forestry Company; accessed 5 Jun 2020
4. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX12272 Major James John Ker Edwards; accessed 6 Jun 2020
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: NX12272 Major James John Ker Edwards; accessed 6 Jun 2020