Edward Daniel Hong was born in Camperdown, VIC and was a Labourer by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 14th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement on 28 July 1915 at the age of 29. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23 November 1915. . In March 1916, while in Egypt, he was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion with whom he later moved to France. His service record notes that on June 17th 1917 he accidentally injured himself – æknee cap out of joint'. It seems that in the simple act of filling his water bottle at a water cart he twisted his knee aggravating the earlier injury. With his knee inflamed and swollen he was subsequently evacuated to the 1st London General Hospital for treatment. Interestingly, on admission to hospital it is recorded that he was suffering from a gunshot wound to his knee. His mother, Elizabeth, received a letter dated 16 July 1917 advising her of his ægunshot wound right knee'. Because his knee condition would not allow him to move freely on uneven ground he was returned to Australia on the Anchises, disembarking at Melbourne on January 3rd 1918. He was discharged the following month, æmedically unfit – moveable cartilage of the right knee'.
Tree No. 1827