Edwin James Welch (26 December 1838 – 24 September 1916) was an English naval cadet, surveyor, photographer, newspaper proprietor, writer and journalist. Welch discovered John King, sole survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition.
Early life
Welch was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, a son of Commander David Welch, R.N. He was educated at Bluecoat School, Hertford and at the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich. He entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1853, and whilst still in his teens saw active service with Sir Charles Napier during the Crimean War, as Master's Assistant, including assisting with the ship's navigation.
Welch was present at the destruction of Hango Head forts, and the bombardment and capture of Bomarsund. He was also involved in the bombardment of Kertch and was present at the capture of Sebastopol. He continued to wear, throughout his life, the three medals and Sebastopol clasp which were awarded to him.
At the Royal Hospital School he would have been instructed in mathematics as were necessary for the study of navigation and nautical astronomy, including geometry, algebra, and elementary trigonometry; and, in connection with these, the elements of astronomy, with mathematical and physical geography.
Move to Australia
The Crimean War was concluded in 1856 and Welch travelled to Australia, attracted it seems by the prospect of finding gold. He did not find gold but drew on his experiences on the diggings to later write many newspaper articles on the subject.
We are fortunate in having an account of the first years after his arrival. It was recalled, in June 1872, by a journalist on the Riverine Herald, that about 12 or 13 years earlier "there was a young man named Welch at Deniliquin," and that he had been, at one time a telegraph messenger and at another time a barman at a local hotel. The journalist went on to note that
Burke and Wills
These humble beginnings in Australia were recalled by the journalist in order to contrast Welch's position soon after arrival in Australia, with his circumstances at the time the article was written, by which time Welch had taken part in an expedition to discover the fate of members of the Burke and Wills expedition and had recently been appointed acting inspector and relieving officer in The Electric Telegraph Department in Queensland.
By 1861 Welch had secured a position with the now Melbourne Observatory, then at Flagstaff Hill, Melbourne. No doubt he held the position because of the skills he possessed as a result of attending the Royal Naval School and the experience gained in the Royal Navy. Georg von Neumayer was director of the observatory and William John Wills was a work companion.
Neumayer was a member of the organising committee of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which set out in August 1860 to cross Australia from South to North. Wills was appointed surveyor and astronomical and meteoroligal observer for the expedition.
When, after 6 months, nothing was heard from the expedition, the Victorian Relief Expedition was organised and set out on 26 June 1861, under the leadership of Alfred William Howitt. Edwin James Welch, known, of course, to Neumeyer, went as surveyor, photographer and second-in-command. He had been given lessons in photography from Melbourne's leading studio of Batchelder and O’Neill before departure.
On 15 September 1861 Welch was searching along Cooper Creek, ahead of the main body, and discovered John King, who proved to be the sole survivor of that ill-fated expedition. King had been looked after by friendly aborigines, though his emaciated form showed the suffering he had undergone.
At the end of October 1861 the party reached Pamamaroo Creek Camp on the Darling River and Howitt directed Welch and Weston Phillips, another member of the party, to accompany King back to Melbourne. Howitt and the rest of the party awaited with the animals and equipment for further instructions from the expedition committee.
A further expedition was organised to return to Cooper Creek and bring back the remains of Burke and Wills to Melbourne for a public funeral. Welch was also a member of that expedition.