Edwin Charles McCASKER

Regimental number677
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address797 Rathdown Street, North Carlton, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 8"
Weight161 lbs
Next of kinFather, W McCasker, 797 Rathdown Street, North Carlton, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll15 August 1914
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, F Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1915
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 28), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
50
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 14 June 1915.

'For having volunteered & taken part in the forcing of Saphead D21 in the face of the enemy was appointed Lance Corporal', 10 July 1915.

Sent to hospital, 3 August 1915; rejoined Bn, 5 August 1915 (no further details recorded).

Wounded in action, Lone Pine, 8 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 5 June 1916, concluded: 'Previously reported wounded and missing, now killed in action, 8 August 1915.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCASKER Edwin Charles