John Edmondson VC Rest Area, Federal Hwy, Canberra, Australia
Posted by: 
Rapidlywild
S 34° 53.731 E 149° 30.641
55H E 729420 N 6135666
Edmonson VC Rest Area - Established 1995
Waymark Code: WMJWAQ
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 01/06/2014
Views: 10
About The Remembrance Driveway
Nearly all cultures have found ways of remembering wars and honouring their war heroes. Some preserved the memory through myths and legends and others built monuments.
The Great War of 1914-1918 fostered an enormous community need to establish lasting memorials to those who served their country. Today Australia has more war memorials than any other nation.
After World War II, planting trees was seen as a symbol of hope for the future. Mrs Margaret Davis MBE, the Founding President of the Garden Clubs of Australia, suggested planting a living memorial to those Australians who had served in World War II.
A preliminary committee was formed in April 1952 to investigate planting avenues of trees and establishing groves and memorial parks along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra to honour those who had served as members of the Australian Defence Forces during World War II. This committee became the Remembrance Driveway Committee.
In 1954 the Queen and Prince Philip launched the Remembrance Driveway when they each planted a Plane tree in Macquarie Place, Sydney. These trees mark the Sydney end of the Driveway. In 2002 three Red Spotted Gums were planted by the Governor-General in the Remembrance Park, behind the Australian War Memorial, Canberra to mark the Canberra end of the Driveway.
During the 1980s, the M5 Freeway, south of Liverpool, replaced the Hume Highway and it has become the new route for the Driveway, with native trees and shrubs being planted along its length.
The Remembrance Driveway is a tribute from those who remember yesterday and have faith in tomorrow. It commemorates all those who served in the Australian Defence Forces in World War II and subsequent wars or who have served since then in defence of the nation's interests, in operational theatres around the world.
During the mid-1990s the Committee decided to develop the Victoria Rest Areas and Memorial Parks. These honour Australian Victoria Cross recipients from World War Two, the Vietnam war and subsequent conflicts. Because of their acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage, they have been selected by name to represent all men and women commemorated along the Driveway. These memorials have been completed using Committee funds (most of which are donated by the public) and funding from the Federal, NSW and ACT Governments, and with support from commercial entities such as 7-Eleven (Kenna VC Rest Area, Pheasants Nest, NSW). 23 such Victoria Cross memorials have been established as of August 2012.
I hope that those using the Driveway will reflect on the sacrifices made by the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have defended our national interests, helped forge our national identity and continue to serve the nation to this day.
JOHN EDMONDSON
John Hurst Edmondson VC (8 October 1914 – 14 April 1941) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
On 20 May 1940 he enlisted in the 2/17th Battalion after serving with the 4th Militia Battalion since March 1939. He was promoted to corporal. After training at Ingleburn and Bathurst, his battalion embarked for the Middle East on 19 October 1940 as reinforcements for the 9th Division. After desert training, his division relieved the 6th Australian Division at Marsa Brega in Cyrenaica on 9 March 1941. On 31 March, the German forces under the command of General Erwin Rommel mounted an attack on the Australian and British positions, forcing them to retreat. The 9th Division took up new positions outside the port of Tobruk and on 11 April, the now famous siege began.
Victoria Cross Citation
The announcement and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in supplement to the London Gazette on 1 July 1941, reading
'War Office, 1st July, 1941.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—
No. 15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson, Australian Military Forces.
On the night of 13th–14th April, 1941, a party of German infantry broke through the wire defences at Tobruk, and established themselves with at least six machine guns, mortars and two small field pieces. It was decided to attack them with bayonets, and a party consisting of one officer, Corporal Edmondson and five privates, took part in the charge. During the counter-attack Corporal Edmondson was wounded in the neck and stomach but continued to advance under heavy fire and killed one enemy with his bayonet. Later, his officer had his bayonet in one of the enemy and was grasped about the legs by him, when another attacked him from behind. He called for help, and Corporal Edmondson, who was some yards away, immediately came to his assistance and in spite of his wounds, killed both of the enemy. This action undoubtedly saved his officer's life.
'Shortly after returning from this successful counter-attack, Corporal Edmondson died of his wounds. His actions throughout the operations were outstanding for resolution, leadership and conspicuous bravery.
An hour later, 200 German infantrymen attacked the post, forcing the Australians to withdraw, and established a bridgehead in the outer defensive line. However, the fierceness of the platoon's defence pressured Rommel into diverting troops from his main attack. The attack failed, with the German tanks being mauled and forced to retreat with heavy casualties.
Corporal John Edmondson died of his wounds and is buried in the Tobruk war cemetery. He was the first Australian to receive the Victoria Cross in the war. Edmondson's VC was presented to his mother by the Governor-General on 27 September 1941. In 1969, she presented her son's medals and some of his personal belongings to the Australian War Memorial, where they still are on display.
Highway Number: Federal Highway 23
Common Name for the Highway: Federal Highway
Highway Access Direction: Either Direction
Rest Area Name: John Edmondson VC
Facilities:
Picnic Area, Off Road Parking, Toilets, Shelter, Petfriendly
Services:
None
Special Features:
Views of Rowes Lagoon
WiFi: no
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Visit Instructions:
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