Edward St John BEERS

Place of birthColeraine, Co. Londonderry, Ireland
OccupationSoldier
Address'Kiree', North Parade, Campsie, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation48
Height5' 11"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs E Beers, North Parade, Campsie, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the Royal Australian Artillery for 9 years; Instructional Staff, Army Medical Corps, for 16 years; Army Medical Corps P Services for 1 year.
Enlistment date20 August 1914
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentHON LT (QM)
Unit name1st Field Ambulance
AWM Embarkation Roll number26/44/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board TRANSPORT A14 Euripides on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollMajor
Unit from Nominal RollAustralian Army Medical Corps
FateReturned to Australia 13 March 1918
Discharge date30 June 1918
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

On temporary duty at No 2 Australian General Hospital, Ghezireh, 14 August 1915. Appointed Quartermaster and Honorary Captain, ANZAC Headquarters, Cairo, 22 November 1915.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 26 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 4 April 1916. Admitted to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, 7 June 1916 (influenza, mild); discharged to duty, 13 June 1916. On leave to England, 13 October 1916; rejoined hospital, 22 October 1916. On leave to United Kingdom, 16 July 1917; rejoined hospital, 26 July 1917. Appointed Quartermaster and Honorary Major, 1 September 1917.

Proceeded to AIF Headquarters, London, for temporary duty, 15 February 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board 'Dunvegan Castle' ('for family reasons' - wife's ill health: Colonel T.H. Dodds, Deputy Adjutant General, AIF HQ, attached Australian Corps, France, 26 February 1918, approved his return to Australia '[I]n view of his age and long service in the A.I.F.'), 13 March 1918; left Capetown on board HT 'Tofua, 21 May 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 14 June 1918, for onward travel to Sydney; discharged, 30 June 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BEERS Edward St John