| Regimental number | 3739 |
| Place of birth | Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | State School, Carlton, Victoria |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 21 |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Motor driver |
| Address | 9 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Height | 5' 9.25" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs E Edwards, 9 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served for 1 year in the Senior Cadets. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death | 21.5 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 21 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 20), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 169 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Emma EDWARDS, 'Beulah', Balcombe Road, Black Rock, Victoria. Native of Carlton, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Allotted to and proceeded to join 59th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916. Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, 15 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Statement, Red Cross File No 991104, 3698 Pte W. BOWES, 60th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 23 February 1917: 'In a raid at Fromelles, Armentieres the party had got about 20 yards over the parapet, when a bullet struck Edwards in the heart and he fell dead. Informant was beside him and saw this.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, EDWARDS John
Red Cross File No 991104 |