Edward Champion was born in Melbourne and was employed as a Physician Surgeon in Ballarat when he enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps Reinforcements on 16 March 1917 at the age of 49. His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A30 Borda on 23 June 1917. He sailed from Melbourne on the Shropshire on May 11th and disembarked at Plymouth on July 19th. Three weeks later he was attached to the No.1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France. During the course of the war he served at the No.6 Australian Stationary Hospital and the 15th Casualty Clearing Station. In July 1918 he was elevated to the rank of Major. He left England in July 1919 to return to Australia aboard the Orsova.
Tree No. 2955