CHAMPION, Edward (1867-?)
Edward was born in 1867, the seventh of thirteen children of Benjamin Champion and Elizabeth nee Plowman. He was alleged to have been educated at Geelong College, then studied at Melbourne Grammar School and Trinity College, The University of Melbourne, where he graduated MB BS. There is no enrolment record for Edward Champion at Geelong College nor does he appear in the Prize Lists.
He became the Senior Resident at Melbourne Hospital in 1892 and Ballarat Hospital from 1893 until 1896. In 1898 at Ballarat he married Miss Elfrida Bennett Retallack, daughter of Cyrus and Elfrida Bennett Retallack, and they had four children, Olive Beryl Champion, born at Queenscliff in 1900, Doris Hope Champion in 1902, Philip Edward Champion in 1904, and Henry Alan Champion in 1906, the latter three being born in Ballarat.
Edward enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 15 March 1917, and embarked on HMAT A9 Shropshire on 11 May for France, arriving there on 25 August 1917. He was then appointed to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Outtersteene. He was promoted Major on 1 July 1918, and rendered service with his unit at Hondeghem, Bundecque, St Venant, Fretin, Tournai and Hal, where he was attached to the following British CCS’s for short periods - 55th at Tournai, 15th at Eblinghen, 20th at Boisleux, and 58th at Longueness. He returned to Australia on 4 September 1919, and his appointment was terminated on 5 October 1919.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck; p155 (citing J Beacham Kiddle OBE, War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918 (1923); Pegasus; National Archives).