View source for Ernest John Coles

{{infobox soldier
| image           = [[File:Coles_Ernest_John.jpg|border|400px]]
| caption         = State Library of Western Australia
| image2          =
| caption2        =
| dateofbirth	  = 3 Jan 1894
| placeofbirth	  = York, Western Australia
| death	          = 7 Jun 1917
| placeofdeath	  = Messines, Belgium
| enlistmentage	  = 22 years, 1 month
| description	  = 5'7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 146 lbs (66.2kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair.
| height          = 5'7½" (1.71m)
| weight          = 146 lbs 
| complexion      = dark
| eyes            = brown
| hair            = dark brown
| descriptionnote = 
| occupation	  = Farm hand
| religion	  = Presbyterian
| address	  = Mundijong, Western Australia
| relation	  = Father
| nextofkin       = Mr Jesse Coles
| regnumber	  = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3269407 1805A]
| enlistmentdate  = 24 Jun 1916
| rank	          = Private
| unit     	  = 44th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, transferred to the 33rd Battalion / 9th Brigade, 3rd Division
| embarkationdatefrom = 9 Aug 1916 
| embarkationdateto = 25 Sep 1916
| shipembarked	  = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
| embarkedshipnote =
| embarkationdatefrom2 = 
| embarkationdateto2 = 
| shipembarked2	  = 
| embarkedshipnote2 =
| dateofreturnfrom = 
| dateofreturnto  = 
| shipreturned    = 
| shipreturnednote =
| dateofreturnfrom2 = 
| dateofreturnto2  = 
| shipreturned2    = 
| shipreturnednote2 =
| fate1	          = Killed in Action 7 Jun 1917 Messines, Belgium
| fate2           = 
| fate3           = 
| fate4           =
| monument1	  = [[Mundijong School Roll of Honour]]
| monumentnote1   =
| monument2	  = [[Mundijong Honour Roll]]
| monumentnote2   =
| monument3	  = [[Menin Gate Memorial]]
| monumentnote3   =
| monument4	  = 
| monumentnote4   =
| monument5	  = 
| monumentnote5   =
| monument6	  = 
| monumentnote6   =
| monumentawm     = [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1713332 Australian War Memorial]
| monumentawmnote =
| monumentother   =
| monumentothernote =
| medal1	  = [[British War Medal]]
| medal2          = [[Victory Medal]]
| medal3          =
| medal4          =
}}



==Pre War==
Enlisted in Mundijong.

==War Service==
Soon after joining Blackboy Hill camp, Ernest was allocated to the 2nd reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, and following some training he travelled with the draft to England. During the voyage Ernest spent 12 days in the ship's hospital with Measles.

On arrival in England, Ernest was taken on strength of the [[11th Training Battalion]] at Lark Hill. On 11 Nov 1916 he was allocated to the 44th Battalion then in England, but three days later he was taken on strength by 'A' Company of the [[33rd Battalion]].

Ernest proceeded overseas to France with the 33rd Battalion through Southampton on 21 Nov 1916 aboard [[HMPS Mona's Queen]].  There are no further entries in his records until his death on 7 Jun 1917 when his unit was part of the attacking force on Messines.

==Post War==
Ernest's father received a pension at 20/- per fortnight from 9 Feb 1917 until his death a few years after the war concluded.

At time of his death his parents had moved to 71 Amherst road, West Midland.  In Memorium card gives father, as having moved back to Mundijong where he was living with his daughter Mrs JE Osborn.

<div><ul> 
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Coles_Ernest_John_Memorial.jpg|thumb|none|400px| 33rd Battalion panel on Menin Gate Memorial - Linton Reynolds photo 2015]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Menin Gate Memorial.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] </li>
</ul></div>


==Notes==
While his records include an initial place of burial (Sh28 S.W. U.3 d.2.4 (AT 19796), his grave was not found later and thus he is recorded on the Menin Gate memorial in Iper (Ypres).
<references />

==External Links==
*[https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=57808 AIF Project]
*[https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/372221 RSL Memorial]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coles , Ernest John}}

[[Category:Soldier]]
[[Category:Born Australia]]
[[Category:Born WA]]
[[Category:1917 Deaths]]
[[Category:1917 KIA]]
[[Category:Killed in action]]
[[Category:Farm hand]]
[[Category:Presbyterian]]
[[Category:Serpentine-Jarrahdale]]