General News
25 July, 2026
Veteran's Voices: Young Sacrifice
Edgar William Chenoweth was born on July 22, 1898, at Lorquon, near Nhill. His parents were Thomas James Chenoweth and Alma Elizabeth Jacobs, and he was one of six brothers and seven sisters.
Edgar William Chenoweth was born on July 22, 1898, at Lorquon, near Nhill.
His parents were Thomas James Chenoweth and Alma Elizabeth Jacobs, and he was one of six brothers and seven sisters.
He was educated at Lorquon Public School, and like many children from poor and working families of the time, Chenoweth did not attend school for long, as he had to find work to earn a wage to contribute to his family, so he began working in 1912 at the age of 14 as an apprentice to a local blacksmith.
At the outbreak of war in 1914, Chenoweth was 16 years old and preparing to begin a third year of training in blacksmithing; he continued learning his trade and helping the family financially, showing no concern for the war.
Chenoweth’s father, Thomas, who had been suffering from heart problems for several months, succumbed to a heart attack on December 27, 1914, at the age of 58.
Therefore, the help of the children to support the large family was even more important.
At the beginning of the summer of 1915, young Chenoweth turned to his mother and requested written authorisation to enlist.
During the First World War, the Australian Army’s enlistment age was 21 years, or 18 years with the permission of a parent or guardian.
He then travelled the 7.5 miles to Jeparit and presented himself at the town’s recruiting office.
After having passed the administrative and medical selection despite his young age, he joined a training camp in the region where he received training in the use of small arms and rifles, as well as the vital gas mask and a first aid kit in case of injury or of an injured comrade having to be treated.
He embarked on October 5, 1915, from Melbourne aboard RMS Moldavia as a Private in the 21st Infantry Battalion.
On board, the Officers feared that the men accustomed to physical work and wide-open spaces would have difficulty coping with long weeks at sea without seeing dry land for sometimes several consecutive days.
To occupy bodies and minds, they organised regular drills on board, as well as fun and sporting activities such as wrestling, boxing, and arm wrestling.
They imposed collective chores like preparing vegetables for cooking and cleaning the ships’ decks, and individual chores like doing their laundry and maintaining their uniforms.
Unfortunately, many men were unable to take advantage of the vegetables they had prepared, and the three copious meals served onboard to allow them to gain strength, because seasickness was prominent in the stomachs of the men who were not accustomed to prolonged stays at sea.
The boat docked in Egypt in early December 1915, a few days before the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula.
The men then joined the camps in the Nile region, where they underwent training concerning life in the trenches and the behaviours to adopt to best preserve their security at the front, as well as on the work and chores necessary to maintain the trenches.
Living conditions in these camps were harsh as exercises took place under the blazing sun in stifling heat, with a few shaded areas to offer protection and little respite.
The sand in the ground made running, digging holes, and building shelters very difficult.
Chenoweth was transferred in the spring of 1916 to the 7th Infantry Battalion when the reorganisation of British units in the different sectors of the front was completed.
He embarked with his unit at the end of March 1916 for Marseilles, France, which they reached on March 31, 1916.
The men were then transported by train to British rear bases in northern France to be assigned a new sector of the front.
They then joined another sector of the front near the Franco-Belgium border near Ploegsteert.
They alternated between passing through the front lines and remaining in the rear.
Although military activity in the sector at that time was relatively limited, there were still hostilities breaking out.
The Germans launched an artillery raid on British positions on June 27, 1916.
A shell fell near the position Chenoweth occupied before he had time to take shelter or protect himself.
The blast of the explosion and shrapnel left him little chance, and he was killed instantly before he experienced a major engagement.
It was less than three months from his arrival in France.
Edgar died on June 27, 1916, at Ploegsteert, Arrondissement de Mouscron, Hainaut, Belgium.
His death was recorded by name in the War Diary of the 7th Battalion.
Edgar Chenoweth rests in Berke Cemetery Extension, Comines- Warneton, Arrondissement de Mouscron, Hainaut, Belgium.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Chenoweth’s mother, Alma, received a memorial plaque, a memorial scroll, and the King’s message, along with his effects; including two discs, letters, photos, a belt, a tobacco pouch, a mirror, a comb, nail scissors, two pencils in nickel cases, a wallet containing tickets, stamps, half pennies, two pocketbooks, two prayer books, seven coins, a key stud, and coil wire.
Chenoweth’s older brother, Oscar Albert, also served in WWI as a private in the 50th Infantry Battalion.
Prior to enlistment, Oscar was an orchardist from Kangarilla, South Australia, and he embarked with the 4th Reinforcements from Adelaide on August 1, 1916, aboard HMAT Ballarat for Devonport, England.
Following training in England, he proceeded to France in early December 1916.
He was hospitalised with illness and later joined his battalion on the Western Front near Buire, France, on March 2, 1917.
Oscar Chenoweth was killed in action during the attack on Noreuil on April 2, 1917, and he was buried in the Noreuil Australian Cemetery.
His grave and 81 others were destroyed by shellfire, and his name is recorded on a special memorial.
He was 39 years old.