John Hurst Edmondson was born at Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. He enlisted at Paddington, NSW, on 20 May 1940.
As a Corporal in the 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, he was killed in action in Libya on 14 April 1941. He was buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery, Tobruk, Libya.
On 4 July 1941, Corporal Edmondson was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his service at Tobruk. The citation was published in the Daily Advertiser on 5 July. Below is an excerpt:
Corporal Edmondson and five privates took part in the charge. During the counter-attack Corporal Edmondson was wounded in the neck and stomach, but he continued to advance under heavy fire and killed one of the enemy ...
His action throughout the operation was outstanding for resolution, leadership and conspicuous bravery.
This was the first Victoria Cross awarded to an Australian in the Second World War.