EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, Herbert Leslie
1916 - 1988 (72 years) Has 33 ancestors and one descendant in this family tree.
1884 - 1970 (86 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, Herbert Leslie Birth 27 May 1916 St. Arnaud, Victoria, Australia 
Gender Male Burial 1988 Springvale, Victoria, Australia Death 23 Nov 1988 Dandenong, Victoria, Australia Person ID I444 Edgoose Last Modified 3 Feb 2026
Father EDGOOSE, Elmitt Jesse, b. 20 Apr 1881, Leopold, Victoria, Australia d. 4 Nov 1952, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia (Age 71 years) Mother BEYER, Ethel Matilda, b. 9 Jun 1884, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia d. 20 Aug 1970, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia (Age 86 years) Marriage 23 Sep 1911 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Family ID F293 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family BOOTE, Verna Ethel, b. 16 Nov 1921, Smithton, Tasmania, Australia d. 15 Mar 1985, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia (Age 63 years) Marriage 13 Jan 1942 Dandenong, Victoria, Australia Children 1. EDGOOSE, Lois Patricia, b. 15 Oct 1948, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia d. 12 Dec 1974, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia (Age 26 years)Family ID F296 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, Herbert Leslie (1916-1988)
Herbert Leslie EDGOOSE was born at St. Arnaud, Victoria, Australia, on 27 May 1916, son of Elmitt Jesse and Ethel Matilda EDGOOSE.
Elmitt Jesse EDGOOSE had married Ethel Matilda BEYER in 1910.
From the 1937 Electoral Roll of Morwell, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
From the 1939 Electoral Roll of Elgin Street, Morwell, Victoria, Australia (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie, clerk
"Morwell Fire Brigade.
Presentations at Station
On Monday evening last, members of the Morwell Fire Brigade met in the station for a dual purpose.
Captain LOBLEY stated they were losing Fireman H. EDGOOSE, who had been transferred to Melbourne. Whilst a member of the Fire Brigade he had been a keen and enthusiastic worker and would be greatly missed by the members, who held him in the highest esteem. They did not want him to leave without taking a momento (sic) to remind him of the Morwell Fire Brigade.
Capt. LOBLEY presented Fireman EDGOOSE with a leather-bound writing case."
(Morwell Advertiser, 4 May 1939)
(www.trove.nla.gov.au)
"Gone to the City.
Mr. H. L. EDGOOSE, who has been on the staff of the Morwell branch of the State Savings Bank, left on Monday for his new position in the Melbourne office. Mr. W. McRoberts succeeds him in the Morwell office."
(Morwell Advertiser (Morwell, Victoria, Australia), 11 May 1939)
(www.trove.nla.gov.au)
He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force at Melbourne, Victoria, on 3 February 1941. His service number was 401424.
He married Verna Ethel BOOTE at Dandenong, Victoria, Australia, on 13 January 1942.
From the 1942 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Flinders, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel
"MR. AND MRS. EDGOOSE received a pleasant surprise over the week-end when their son, Flight-Sergeant Herbert EDGOOSE telephoned from Wagga to say that he would be home on leave on the Monday. Looking a bit leaner after his stay in the tropicicics (he is attached to the North-West Sector as an air-gunner) he arrived on Monday for 7 days at home. He flew as far as Wagga and then came on by train. The Japs bombed Darwin on the three nights before he left. It is a wonderful sight to see the 'planes coming over in perfect formation in the moonlight, Herb declares. The crews of his flight have been having a busy time and it is only a week or so ago that he was in a plane which hit a Jap ship over near the Tanimber Islands."
(The Dandenong Journal, Page 1 Personals -Trove, 30 September 1942)
"Edgoose Family are "Fighters"
Two first cousins from Victoria are serving with R.A.A.F. squadrons in war zones as far apart as the Arctic and Timor. Pilot Officer Thomas A. EDGOOSE, formerly of Surrey Hills is with the Australian squadron in Russia co-operating with the Soviet Air Force and Navy in keeping open the vital Murmansk convoy route. Flight Sergeant Herbert L. EDGOOSE, of Dandenong (and at one time a clerk in the State Savings Bank at Morwell and a prominent baller in the Morwell team) took part in one oof the biggests raids yet made on Japanese occupied bases in Timor when tons of bombs were showered down on Dilli and Bobonaro. Members of the EDGOOSE family (says "The Herald") have achieved a rare record during this war and the last, six having fought with the R.A.A.F., the Navy and the A.I.F."
(Morwell Advertiser, 19 November 1942)
(www.trove.nla.gov.au)
530th RAAF Squadron: Radio Opr: EDGOOSE, Herbert L., 408424 (RAAF), Lister's Crew (71A), PAR1, S0271, 380BG, 27 Sep 44, W/O, /, /, F/O
"Local Boy In Honoured Squadron
The RAAF SQUADRON of which Flight-Sgt. Herb EDGOOSE, son of Mr. and Mrs. EDGOOSE, of Sleeth avenue, Dandenong, belongs, is one of two that have been cited by President Roosevelt, on General MacArthur's recommendation, for courage and efficypions. The citations reads [sic]:
"Operating from bases in North-Western Australia this squadron, equipped with aeroplanes highly vulnerable to enemy fighter planes, made repeated attacks on enemy shipping, aerodromes, troops, and installations on and near Timor, Amboina, anlands in the Banda Sea, inflicting heavy damage to enemy material, and causing numerous casualties. It successfully maintained continuous long range reconnaissance over water north-west of Australia. Courage of its members in combat and high morale of this unit under hazardous combat situations contributed greatly to success of operations in the area."
(The Dandenong Journal, Page 2 With the Boys in Uniform - Trove, 24 February 1943)
His son Alan John EDGOOSE was born on 1 July 1944.
He held the rank of Flying Officer 23 Squadron (Leyburn Qld) at discharge on 17 December 1945 (www.ww2roll.gov.au).
After the war he resumed work for the State Savings Bank of Victoria. He became a bank manager.
From the 1946 Electoral Roll of 20 Close Street in the Subdivision of Dandenong (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOSE (sic) Herbert Leslie, bank clerk.
(Note: He was actually listed at 1 Sleeth Avenue, Dandenong, with his parents Elmitt Jesse and Ethel Matilda whose names are immediately above his in the list, but this is possibly a misprint).
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel, home duties
His daughter Lois Patricia EDGOOSE was born on 15 October 1948. She died in 1974.
From the 1949 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, La Trobe, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
EDGOOSE, Verna Ethel
From the 1954 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, La Trobe, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel
From the 1963 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Bruce, Victoria, Australia (abreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie, 47 Clow street, bank clerk
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel, 47 Clow street, home duties
In 1967 he was living at 47 Clow Street, Noble Park, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia.
From the 1967 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Bruce, Victoria, Australia:
EDGOOSE, Herbert Leslie
Verna Ethel
From the 1968 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Holt, Victoria Australia (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie, 47 Clow street, bank clerk
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel, 47 Clow street, home duties
From the 1972 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Holt, Victoria, Australia (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie, 47 Clow Street, Dandenong 3175, bank clerk
EDGOSE Verna Ethel, 47 Clow Street, Dandenong 3175, home duties
EDGOOSE Alan John, 47 Clow Street, Dandenong 3175, carpenter
EDGOOSE Lois Patricia, 47 Clow Street, Dandenong 3175, clerk
From the 1977 Electoral Rolls of Dandenong, Chelsea, Victoria, Australia (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel
From the 1980 Electoral Roll of Dandenong, Holt, Victoria, Australia (abbreviations expanded):
*EDGOOSE Herbert Leslie
EDGOOSE Verna Ethel
He died at Dandenong, Victoria, Australia, on 23 November 1988 aged 72.
The memorial plaque in Springvale Botanical Cemetery reads as follows:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
HERBERT LESLIE
EDGOOSE
PASSED AWAY 23RD NOV. 1988
AGED 72 YEARS
BELOVED HUSBAND OF VERNA
LOVED FATHER OF
ALAN AND LOIS
TREASURED MEMORIES
(Billion Graves)
(revised 09.02.2026)