May, Edward (25946)
Place of Birth: Melbourne, VIC
Age: 36 years 3 months
Enlistment Details: Tuesday, 8 February 1916 – Brunswick, VIC
Service Number: 25946 view online service record
Address:
111 Princes Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Next of Kin:
Elizabeth May (mother)
111 Princes Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Embarkation Details:
Date: Tuesday, 1 August 1916
Ship: HMAT Orsova A67
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 1st Divisional Ammunition Column – 18th Reinforcements
Fate:
KIA: Thursday, 16 August 1917
Place: Belgium
Brother: Tasker May
Gunner, 1 Field Artillery, killed in action 16 August, 1917, Belgium, aged 37, commemorated Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
Parents: William Thomas (died, November, 1917) and Mrs Elizabeth MAY, wife Georgina MAY, born Port Melbourne, educated Nott Street SS. May enlisted as a 36-year-old driver from Brunswick, married, but wife’s address unknown (later North Fitzroy), mother at 111 Princes Street as next of kin. This was later altered to a daughter Evelyn, suggesting his mother may have died in the interim. The Port Melbourne Standard, 8 September revealed he left five children, was employed by Swallow and Ariel and a former President of the Port Friendly Societies Dispensary. Brother, 654, Tasker May also enlisted, next of kin father at the Princes Street address – he was a Boer War veteran and there were three other brothers and four sisters.
His Boer War Attestation suggests he was from Auburn, but working with Robert Harper & Co in Port Melbourne and his father was shown at the time at 108 Dow Street. The Attestation also suggests a second given name of Sherwood. No circular returned, but his residence in Port Melbourne is confirmed by Victorian Probate records.
Additional research by Brian Membrey
E May is listed on the Roll of Honour for the Port Melbourne Branch of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society (PAFS)
1917 ‘PORT P.A.F.S.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 20 January, p. 3. , viewed 29 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88370019