The Australian War Memorial is seeking copyright permission to publish a number of historic collections – including paper records, film, audio and photos – as part of its project to digitise items at risk of deterioration.
The project’s aim is to help preserve the original items and enable the collection to be more accessible to researchers in future.
The Memorial is seeking copyright permission to publish the collections listed below. If are you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of persons or organisations named, please contact the Memorial via email on digitised.collections@awm.gov.au
Joseph William Edmondson, 3 April 1883–27 July 1958
Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, 8 June 1885–20 October 1962
Joseph William “Will” Edmondson was born on 3 April 1883 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, one of eight children born to Joseph Edmondson and Martha May Edmondson (née McKenzie).
Maude Elizabeth Hurst was born on 8 June 1885 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, one of 12 children born to John Hurst and Keturah Hurst (née Angel).
Will married Maude Elizabeth Hurst on 17 July 1912 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
On 8 October 1914, Maude gave birth to the couple’s only child: John Hurst “Jack” Edmondson.
The Edmondson family resided initially in Wagga Wagga and then moved to “Forest Home”, a farm located on the Hume Highway in Liverpool, New South Wales.
Jack Edmondson enlisted on 20 May 1940 and served with the 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion in Tobruk, Libya. He was killed in action on 14 April 1941 and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the life of his commanding officer.
Joseph William Edmondson passed away on 27 July 1958 in Liverpool, New South Wales.
Maude Elizabeth Edmondson passed away on 20 October 1962 in Liverpool, New South Wales.
Bessie Keturah Crain (née Hurst, nee Bickley), 8 February 1912–27 December 1996
Bessie Keturah Hurst was born on 8 February 1912 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, one of seven children born to Robert John Hurst and Florence Hurst (née Peacock).
Bessie married Allan Leslie Bickley on 7 January 1950 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Bessie Bickley remarried a man named Albert Ronald “Dick” Crain.
In February 1995 she was residing at the Haven, an aged care facility in Wagga Wagga.
Bessie Keturah Crain passed away on 27 December 1996, and is buried at Wagga Wagga Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium.
The Memorial holds five letters, dated c. 1960s, from Maude Elizabeth Edmondson to Ron Grant, as well as one letter from Joseph William Edmondson to George Fraser Longmuir. Bessie Crain, the niece of Maude and Joseph Edmondson, was the last known copyright holder of these items.
If you are a relative of Joseph William Edmondson, Maude Elizabeth Edmondson, or Bessie Crain or in contact with their descendants, please contact the Memorial via email on digitised.collections@awm.gov.au
Collection number: PR06102; PR85/278
James Cecil Cotter, 12 June 1900 – 5 January 1975
Susan Evangeline “Eva” Cotter, 28 August 1895 – 15 February 1968
James Cecil Cotter was born on 12 June 1900 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, one of four children born to Michael Cotter and Ellen Cotter (née Barrett).
Susan Adams was born 28 August 1895 in Inverell, New South Wales, to William Reid Adams and Annie Adams (née Ford).
James enlisted on 3 December 1940 and served with the 2/4 Australian Field Park at Tobruk, Libya.
He married Susan Evangeline Reid Adams in Manly, New South Wales, in 1945.
In 1952, James served as the President of the Rats of Tobruk Association, NSW Branch.
Susan Evangeline “Eva” Cotter passed away on 15 February 1968.
James Cecil Cotter passed away on 5 January 1975.
The Memorial holds a letter, dated 20 April 1961, from Susan Evangeline “Eva” Cotter to Mr and Mrs Ronald Sidney Grant.
If you are a relative of James Cecil Cotter and Susan Evangeline Cotter, or in contact with their descendants, please contact the Memorial via email on digitised.collections@awm.gov.au
Collection number: PR85/278
