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Gnr. Edward John Wyly
Australian Imperial Force 4th Divisional Ammunition Column Australian Field Artillery
from:Beach Road, Grange, Adelaide, South Australia.
(d.16th Aug 1918)
Edward Wyly was not a close relation of mine, in fact he is a very distant relative, but they all have stories and they should not be forgotten. He was born in 1883 to Alexander and Elizabeth Wyly at their home The Walnuts, Crafers West, Adelaide, South Australia. He lived a suburban life marrying Grace Henrietta MacFarlane (who was rather beautiful) in 1909. A year later they had a daughter, Edith Laura. In peacetime he joined the militia, serving 4 years with C Co, 1st Battalio, Adelaide Rifles. His occupation was as a salesman for a furniture company.
He signed his attestation papers in Adelaide on 8th of September 1916 and joined the South Australian Field Artillery, 28th Reinforcements, 4th Divisional Ammunition Column. To some degree he had a rather uneventful start to his war but by Nov 1917 the cloud was gathering. On the 11 Nov he was on a hospital ship, discharged on 14th, he travelled to England via Suez, Alexandria and Taranto arriving in Southampton on 4th of January 1918.
On 24th of April 1918 he was in the field. The next entry on his service record just makes that dread statement, K.I.A 16th of August 1918. He was buried at Bayonvillers British Cemetery Near Corbie. He was just short of his 33rd birthday when he died.
His wife received a quite beautiful letter from his pals. Dated France 23rd of August 1918. (I summarise).'Poor old Ted, who was endeared to all who knew him as we did, was killed in action at Guillecourt on 16th inst, a piece of 'Hun'shell which burst within a few yards of him, penetrated his left breast, causing instantaneous death. He was buried by our Padre on the 17th inst at Bayonville and a cross bearing the Masonic sign cut from a brass shell casing, and inscription has been erected by the men of his section'. I quote now directly from the letter: 'By reason of his genial disposition Ted was a favourite among his fellows in the section, it can honestly be said of him that he carried out his duties thoroughly and conscientiously his name may justly be included among the fallen who have laid down their lives for their God, King and Country' The letter was then signed by numerous members of Ted's company.
Was this a comfort to Grace? Maybe, but I know she lived to be 100 years old dying in 1987. She never remarried and in every photo looking rather lost and sad, every dream and hope for the future died 70 years before, with him. A few years after the war ended, in March 1920 she received a letter to say they had exhumed Ted's body and moved it to Heath Cemetery, Harbonniers, no mention of why.
I hope in the 7 years they had together they loved for a lifetime, because that's all Grace had.
