ANZAC Search

Edward Joseph Fahey - Information

When he grew up, Edward left his family in Appin where he was born and raised and moved to Belmore Rd in Randwick with his younger brother, Walter. Here, he and Walter completed an apprenticeship as tailors at the Imperial Arcade in Sydney. Both Edward and Walter then decided to join the military, joining up within a day of each other. Edward enlisted on the 5th of January 1916 in Marrickville, aged 29. Edward and Walter were luckily placed in the same units during training. They were allocated to the 5th Reinforcements, 5th Field Artillery Brigade, and then the 28th Battery, 7th FAB on the 1st of April 1916 as Gunners.

Edward and Walter left Sydney Harbour on the 11th of May 1916 aboard the HMAT Argyllshire. After training in England, they departed Southampton in late December for the Western Front. Not long after arriving in France, Edward watched in horror as Walter become severely wounded by artillery shrapnel in February 1917. Walter was evacuated to hospital in England. While he was gone, Edward continued on with his duty, proving to be a capable Gunner. On the 3rd of November 1917, Edward was promoted to Acting Bombardier, full Bombardier in January 1918, and Sergeant by February. On the 6th of October, Edward was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to his left thigh. Edward was evacuated to England admitted to Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol four days later. Edward'€™s wound was extensive, and he was consequently invalided home to Australia on the 21st of December 1918.