This painting was donated to Liverpool Council by Eric’s wife Jean Appleton in 1949.

Jack Edmondson (1914-1941) was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, later moving to Liverpool where he worked on his parents’ farm. After service in the militia, he enlisted in the AIF and was promoted to corporal soon afterwards. He embarked for the Middle East with his battalion in October 1940 and trained in Palestine.

In April 1941 German infantry breached the defences at Tobruk, establishing machine-guns, mortars, and field-guns. A seven-man section, including Edmondson, charged the position. Although wounded in the neck and stomach, Edmondson continued to advance under heavy fire, killing one German with his bayonet. He later killed another two Germans, saving the life of his platoon commander, but he succumbed to his wounds soon after the German attack was defeated. His citation noted that Edmondson’s actions during the operation “were outstanding for resolution, leadership and conspicuous bravery”.

His name is still honoured by: the John Edmondson VC Rest Area at Roses Lagoon on the Remembrance Driveway from Sydney to Canberra; John Edmondson VC Memorial RSL Club, Liverpool, NSW; a plaque in the Walk of Honour in Baylis Street, in his birthplace of Wagga Wagga, NSW; the school hall in his former school, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, is named after him; a high school in the Horningsea Park district in NSW is named after him; the Sydney suburb of Edmondson Park, and Edmondson Street in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde,