EDGINTON, Arthur Benjamin
Arthur Edginton enlisted on 11 February, 1915, and was placed in the 22nd battalion. He was British by birth, 29 years old, single and described himslef as a waiter and cook. He lived at 395 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, and gave his next of kin as his sister, Mary Ann Edginton, 32 Bicester-road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
The 22nd Battalion was formed on 28 March, 1915, at Broadmeadows, so this is where he would have been trained. They embarked form Melbourne on 10 May, 1915, and the date on Arthur Edginton's Embarkation Roll entry is 10 May. He left on HMAT Ulysses A38. From melbourne, the 28th battalion were sent ot Egypt, then on to Gallipoli. They were withdrawn in mid-December and were sent back to Egypt, then England, and on to France. Their first engagement with the enemy was at Fleurbaix on 7 April, 1916, where they manned the reserve breastwork trenches. Their first experience on the front line was at Pozieres, where they were part of the British offensie in the Somme Valley during September-October. From there, the 22nd Battalion went ot Ypres, then back for the winter months at the Somme. In 1917, they were engaged in tranch warfare from Bullecourt to Broodseinde in Flanders. In 1918, they were in the Somme Valley to resist the German Spring Offensive. In 1918, they were at Mount St. Quentin and took part in the last ection fought by the AIF on the Western Front, the battle of Montbrehain in October, 1918.
Arhut Edginton returned to Australia on 14/1/1919, but it is difficult to know anything more about him, because his entire service record is missing from the National Archives. he does not appear on the Electoral Rolls or the Death Index on Ancestry.com.au
Australian War Museum, Embarkation Records