Military History

Enlisted Adelaide, Trained with Artillery at Maribyrnong, Victoria 16.6.1916- 3.10.1916.
Embarked Melbourne per HMAT ‘Aeneus’ A 60 for UK 2.10.1916.
Roll Rank Driver.
Roll Unit 120th Howitzer Battery.
Rawson disembarked at Plymouth, England 19.11.1916. He marched in to Boyton Camp, Wiltshire with his unit 7.1.1917. After a period of intensive training, he proceeded overseas to France from Southampton 26.3.1917. Rawson was taken on strength with 54th Battery 14th Field Artillery Brigade 31.3.1917. The 14th FAB was raised to support the 5th Division. The 14th Brigade fought at Passchendaele in October 1917. Rawson was KIA In the Field France 2.10.1917. Red Cross files describe that he was driving horses carrying ammunition when he was hit by a shell and buried near Hell Fire Corner (AWM Red Cross File) (West Australian Newspapers 17.11.1917) He was buried by 1st ANZAC Corps at Bellewaarde Ridge, Military Cemetery. 28 Miles NE. 10.10.1917. The War Graves Commission re –interred his body to Birr Cross Road Military Cemetery, Plot 2, Row C, Ypres.
Final Rank Driver, 14th Field Artillery Brigade.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes There was conflict over ownership of Rawson’s medals and will, between sister E.M. Rawson who worked in service at various addresses and Mother, Mrs A. Hutchison of Mortigallup, via Tenterden, WA, who eventually won the claim of the estate.
Rawson was nicknamed ‘Darky’, and was described as half caste in the Red Cross Files, indicating he was possibly of Aboriginal descent. He was born in SA.
Photos Edward Henry Rawson. Photograph source Western Mail 9.11.1917
             Passchendaele 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01200
             Abandoned guns at Westhoek after battle of Passchendaele.Oct 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01088
             Transporting ammunition to Birr Cross Road at Ypres.19.9.1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0073
             Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium. Photographer unknown, photograph source CWGC

Information Source
AWM E01200. Passchendaele 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01088. Abandoned guns at Westhoek after battle of Passchendaele.Oct 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E0073. Transporting ammunition to Birr Cross Road at Ypres.19.9.1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
CWGC .Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
West Australian Newspaper
NAA: B2455, Rawson Edward Henry
AWM Embarkation Files Edward Henry Rawson
AWM Red Cross Files Edward Henry Rawson
Western Mail 
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

Hindmarsh, SA.
Helena Street, Guildford, WA. (sister)

Associated Images