Edward Crossland was born 23 August 1883 in Gordonvale to Edwin Crossland and Sarah Johnstone.

Edward’s father Edwin was one of the first men to reach Cairns in 1876, one of Cairns’ earliest Pioneers.  Edward’s eldest brother, Albert, born 1876, was reported in a newspaper article to be the first white child born in Cairns.  Edward had 2 older sisters: Sarah born 1876 and died 1876, Rebecca born 1878 and died 1878.  Not long after Edward’s birth in 1883, his mother Sarah died.

Edward’s father Edwin married again to Kate O’Brien and they had 6 children: Lillian born 20 January 1888, Charles Henry born 8 December 1885, Benjamin born 8 December 1891, John Thomas born 7 October 1898, and Rebecca born 1898. A George Bartholomew died in 1919 but a birth record could not be located. His father, Edwin Crossland died on the 25 July 1928.

On Edward’s enlistment he stated he was born in Gordonvale, and gave his age as 32 years 5 months. His occupation was a Farmer and his next of kin was his father, Edward Crossland of Gordonvale. His height was 5 feet 8 ½ inches, he weighed 151 pounds with brown complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and his religion was Church of England.

Edward served in France, was injured in the left shoulder and evacuated to to England. He re-joined his unit on 14 November 1917.  Private Edward Crossland, on the 5 April 1918, was reported as missing in action, which was later changed to being reported a prisoner of war in German hands.  A later report states he died whilst a Prisoner of War in German hands in hospital 22 July 1918 and was buried in the Valenciennes Communal Cemetery, France, plot v; row d; grave 12.