When Edward was about 15 years old in November 1854 he enlisted into the British Army.
Edward was a Crimean veteran, having served as a labourer soldier of the 63rd Regiment of Foot (reference). During his service, he fought at Sebastopol (reference). The Crimean War lasted from 1854 to 1856 and was fought by Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia (reference). The war began when Russia invaded Turkish land, and Britain and France wanted to aid the Ottoman Empire in resisting Russia's expansion (reference). On 14 September 1854, the Allies landed on the northwest coast of the Crimea at Calamita Bay (reference). By 18 September, the Allies marched on Sevastopol and were blocked by Russians, leading to the Alma battle at the River Alma on 20 September (reference). They then marched onto Sebastopol, a city, which's bombardment started on 17 October (reference). On 5 November at Inkerman, the Russians attacked again, another battle Edward fought in (reference).
Edward would have begun his involvement in the Crimean War as a reinforcement sent out on the Great Britain March of 1855. He also took part in the Seige of Sebastopol.
After the Crimean War ended in 1856, Edward ended up at Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada by 1861 with his regiment. A year later, the regiment had moved onto West Canada.
Edward journey to Bunbury began when he was caught deserting his post and was Court Martialled (reference). He was tried and sentenced on 10 September 1862 in London, Ontaria, Canada to ten years' transportation to Australia (reference; reference). According to the Yates family legend, Edward claimed it was not dissertation but striking a superior officer that saw him transported to Australia. It is unclear what happened, as no historical documents have been found to support this.
Before heading to Australia, Edward was sent back to England on the North American in June 1863, first calling in at Lough Foyle in Ireland before sailing onto Liverpool. Edward then arrived at Millbank prison at Westminister, London, England on 20 June 1863. He was then sent onto Pentonville Prison then Chatham Prison in Kent, where the ship, Racehorse collected him for his transportation to Australia.
His convict number was 8470 (reference; reference). His next of kin was his father, James Yates, who lived at 44 Aberdeen Street, Preston (reference). According to the Convict Department Register, he was 26 years of age when he was convicted, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with light brown hair, hazel eyes, an oval face, dark skin, and middling stout (reference). He also had a union jack tattoo and could read and write (reference; reference). Edward was described to be of very good character in the register (reference). Edward arrived in Australia on the Racehorse on 10 August 1865 (reference).
Edward was granted his Ticket of Leave on 9 June 1867 (reference). A year later he married Margaret Connelly (1847-1894) in Picton on 22 October 1868 (reference; reference). They had four children, Edward Abraham James (1869-1951), Sarah Hannah (1871-1958), Patrick Connelly (1876-1924) and William Thomas (1874-1943) (reference; reference). Margaret arrived in Western Australia on 14 January 1868 on the Tartar from Ireland.
Edward was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 17 September 1872 in Bunbury (reference). He worked in Bunbury as a general servant (reference).
Despite being sent to Australia as a convict for deserting his position, Edward played an active role in the war veteran community of Western Australia (reference).