DARLING, Edward Ernest

Edward Ernest Darling was born on 30 September, 1893, the son of Richard Stuart Darling and his wife Sophia, nee Cook. In 1903, he married Elizabeth Annie Agnes Kemp, known as Eliza, in South Melbourne, the daughter of Henry Kemp and Agnes Uglow Kemp. Their son, Reginald Ernest Darling was born in 1903 in South Yarra, followed by Violet, born 1906 in Carlton and Leonard Stuart, born 1909 in South Yarra. At this time, Sophia and Edward were living at 22 Ralston St., South Yarra, and he was working as a traveller - presumably, a travelling salesman. By 1914, the couple were at 2 Brunswick St, South Yarra, and he was a bookbinder. In 1916, they were living at the Medical Institute in Albert St., East Melbourne, and he was employed there as a bookbinder.

Edward Darling enlisted on 22 May, 1916, and was called up to Broadmeadows Camp. He was placed in B Company, 23rd Depot Battalion for training at the Signal School and then transferred to the 19th Reinforcements of the 5th Battalion. From Broadmeadows, the new recruits embarked on HMAT Themistocles A32 on 28 July, 1916, for England and then the Western Front. In England, they were sent for further training at Durrington, where Edward Darling was AWL from midnight on 9 May 1917 until he was arrested by military police in London at 8 pm the following day. He was charged and given 4 days field patrol, plus forfeiting ten days pay. A further consequence was that he was diagnosed with VD on 29 July, 1917, and spent 18 days in hospital at Bulford, before returning to his battalion. On 2 September, he was transferred over to the 2nd Training Battalion at Lark Hill, but a week later, was sent to Fargo Hospital. A month later, on 14 October, he was at Sutton Veny, and then marched out to the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. The problem appeared to be chronic rheumatism and there was no possibility that he would be able to take an active role in the fighting. he was returned to Australia on the same ship on which he had travelled to Britain, HMAT Themiistocles A32.

In 1919, Edward Darling was back in Melbourne, living at 1 Brunswick St., South Yarra, and working as a bookbinder, but by 1931, perhaps because of the Depression, he was again a traveller, living in Middle Park. In 1936-7 he was a salesman, living at 7 Byrne St., Balaclava. He died on his birthday,30 September, 1948, aged 65, probably at the Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg. His death is marked on his record as 'died on war service', but there appears to be no file on him under recruits to World War 11, nor does he appear on the volunteers list. Edward Ernest Darling was buried at St. Kilda Cemetery.