Edwin Robert Warden (1889-1934)

1916

Wyndham City Libraries

text

eng

Edwin Robert Warden

17923

Amy Florence Warden,
33 Station Street,
Seddon, Victoria.
Wife

33 Station Street,
Seddon

Married

Unknown

No.17923  Private  Edwin Robert Warden
Edwin Robert Warden was born in Deptford, London, to Frederick George Warden and Sarah Ann Warden * (nee Wimble).**

His parents had six children:***   

• Peter Warden - born 1877 at Woolwich, London
• Highnett Warden - born 1882 at Woolwich, London
• Frederick G. Warden - born 1883 at Lambeth, London
• Andrew Warden - born 1886 at Lambeth, London
• Edwin Robert Warden - born  25 April 1890**** at Deptford, London (A.I.F. No.17923)
• William Herbert Warden - born 1899 at Deptford, London

Pre War
Edwin Robert Warden is recorded in the 1911 Census as aged 21 years, living with his parents at 3 Warwick Street, Deptford, London.  His occupation in 1911 was a Brass Trimmer.

I have not been able to locate his immigration record and arrival date into Australia, in the time period between 1911 and 1913.

After arriving in Victoria, Edwin Robert Warden married Amy Florence Donne at Richmond in 1913. (1913/3308) #

When Edwin Warden applied to enlist in the A.I.F. in 1916, he and his wife were living at 33 Station Street Seddon, and he was working as a painter.  At the time of his embarkation overseas in August of the following year, she had moved to 306 Dandenong Road, East St Kilda, Victoria

War Service
Edwin Warden enlisted in the A.I.F. at Footscray, on  4 May 1916.  Between 15 May 1916 and 18 August 1916, he served with the Army Medical Corp at Royal Park.  He then transferred to the Isolation Camp at Ascot Vale between 21 August 1916 and 8 September 1916.

Between 8 September 1916 and 16 November 1916, he went back to the Royal Park Camp, after which he spent time at the Army Medical Corp Camp at the Domain.  February 1917 was spent at the Royal Park Camp, and in March 1917 he returned to the Ascot Vale Camp until 9 July 1917.  During that time he was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal.

On 9 July 1917, he had finally completed his medical and basic training, and was appointed as a Private with the Army Medical Corps, Reinforcements, at the Clearing Hospital in Seymour, Victoria.

At the age of 27 years, Private Warden embarked at Melbourne per H.M.A.T. A32 Thermistocles, on 4 August 1917, with the General Reinforcements of the Army Medical Corps.

On the Embarkation Roll, he is recorded as being a 27-year-old former painter, living at 306 Dandenong Road, East St Kilda, with his wife, Mrs A. F. Warden.

He disembarked from his ship at Glasgow on 2 October 1917, and from there he marched in to the Army Medical Corp Training Depot at Parkhouse.

One month later, on 2 November 1917, he sailed to France, via Southampton, where he was taken on strength with the 15th Field Ambulance.  They were then located at Lanbouver Farm.

On 18 February 1918, the 15th Field Ambulance were at Dranoutre, when Private Warden was admitted to his own hospital with a badly sprained ankle.  In need of specialised treatment, he was invalided back to England via; the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, the Ambulance Train, the 54th General Hospital, and eventually, he was admitted to the Brook War Hospital at Woolwich.

Private Warden was transferred to the 3rd Australian Army Hospital at Dartford on 2 May 1918, and then to the No.1 Com Depot at Sutton Veny.  On 20 July 1918, he marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade, in preparation to returning to his unit.

He spent the remainder of the war with the Overseas Training Brigade at Fovant, and after the Armistice (11 November 1918) he moved to the No.2 Commonwealth Depot at Weymouth.

Private Warden was able to get an early passage back to Australia.  On 24 December 1918, he embarked to Australia per Takada, for "Gymnastic Instruction".

After arriving back in Melbourne, Private Warden was discharged from the A.I.F. on 6 March 1919.

Post War
In 1924, his war service medals were mailed to him at 414 Barkly Street in Footscray.  At this time he was again working as a painter and decorator.

One year later, in 1925, Edwin Robert Warden was involved in the accidental fatal shooting of his friend, Robert Stafford.  This occurred while they were rabbit hunting at Wilson's Point near Lara.
The Argus, 23 February 1925, p.11.
The Age, 3 March 1925, p.10.
The Argus, 4 March 1925, p.23.

On 7 October 1934, Edwin Robert Warden died suddenly at his home at 414 Barkley Street in Footscray at the age of 45 years.## 
His wife, Amy Florence Warden had already predeceased him, in 1932. ###
A death notice said he was mourned by his four children, Eddie, Shirley, Donald and Doris.
The Age, 9 October 1934, p.1.

I have not been able to locate burial information for either Edwin or Amy Warden.

Medals and Entitlements:

• British War Medal - No. 68957
• Victory Medal - No. 66115

Notes
Name on the Werribee Shire Oak Board: WARDEN, E. R.

The name "Warden, E. R. from West Footscray" first appeared in the Roll of Honor, Werribee Shire Banner, 13 February 1919, p.3.  This was after the war had ended.

* ancestry.com – 1911 England Census

** Mothers Maiden name sourced from Edwin’s Death Certificate

*** ancestry.com - 1891 England Census

**** ancestry.com– England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 FHL Film No. 384873

# Digger – Edwardian Index, Victoria 1902-1913

## ancestry.com – Australian Death Index, 1787-1985 (Cert No.9056/1934)

### Find my past - Victoria Deaths 1836-1985 Cert No.2056/1932

Embarkation
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/

Unit War Diary
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection

Death
ancestry.com.au

Service Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

Marriage
ancestry.com.au

Pioneer Index 1837-1888 CD
Federation Index 1889-1901 CD
Edwardian Index 1902-1913 CD
Great War Index 1914-1920 CD
Marriage Index 1921-1942 CD

British War Medal

Victory Medal