Ernest William George Reed

Ernest William George Reed

Western Mail 23 Feb 1917, page 30
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1889
Place of Birth	Waracknabeal, Victoria
Death	10 Nov 1966
Place of Death	Gosnells, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 4 months
Description	5'8¾" (1.75m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Methodist
Address	Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Reed
Military Information
Reg Number	2981
Date of Enlistment	8 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	48th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	2 Jan 1919 ‒ 10 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A35 Berrima
Fate	WIA 12 Oct 1917 Passchendaele WIA 18 Sep 1918 Hindenburg Outpost Line Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1912 - 1914 Sparling's Dairy, Kalgoorlie, dairyman; 1915 Corrigin via Wickepin, farmer

War Service

Enlisted in York, Western Australia, and entered Blackboy Hill camp on 8 Aug 1916. On 29 Aug 1916 he was allocated to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, but this later changed to the 18th draft for the 28th Battalion, and finally on 3 Oct 1916 to the 7th draft for the 48th Battalion who he travelled with to England where they disembarked at Devonport.

On arrival in England they were sent to the 12th Training Battalion at No 14 Camp, Codford. On 12 Feb 1917 Ernest was admitted to the Codford hospital, returning to training on 16 Mar 1917. On 14 Jun 1917 Ernest proceeded overseas to France through Southampton and on arrival in Le Have spent time in the base depot until he joined hthe 48th Battalion on 4 Jul 1917. He found his unit in the front lines near Ploegsteert Wood.

The last of the Australian attacks on Passchendaele occurred in appalling conditions on 12 Oct 1917. Despite some advances, they were not able to hold the ground gained and were forced back suffering the last of the 38,000 casualties associated with the 1917 advances east of Ypres. On the day, Ernest received a gun shot wound to the chest and was treated by the 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance before being sent to the rear where he was admitted to the 14th General Hospital in Boulogne on 13 Oct 1917. Released to the 1st Convalescent Depot on 16 Oct 1917, before being released to the 4th Division's Base Depot on 20 Oct 1917. Ernest was able to rejoin his unit on 2 Nov 1917.

On 28 Feb 1918 he was granted leave to the UK, returning on 18 Mar 1918. He continued with the 48th Battalion until 18 Sep 1918. On that day they were part of the Australian forces involved in storming the Hindenburg Outpost Line. the fight include the 48th Battalion entering enemy trenches and attacking the enemy with bayonet and bombs. During this time Ernest received what were initially thought to be bayonet wounds to his arm and side. Later diagnosis was that a bullet had caused the damage to both his shoulder and side, causing the arm to not be able to be lifted above shoulder height.) Treated by the 4th Field Ambulance, he was sent to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station and the next day (19 Sep 1918) he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Rouen. On 21 Sep 1918 he was evacuated to England aboard HMHS Essequibo.

On arrival in England Ernest was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital (Kings Health Section) at Warwick. Health improving he was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on 20 Nov 1918 where he was checked out and then granted furlough from 23 Nov till 7 Dec 1918, when he reported to No.4 Command Depot in Hurdcott. He was quickly sent home, departing England on 2 Jan 1919. On arrival back in Australia he spent from 10 Feb until 20 Feb in the 8th Australian General Hospital at Fremantle before being discharged by the 5th Military District on 22 Mar 1919 as medically unfit.

Post War

No record of marriage found.

Electoral |Roll entries: 1925 - 1954 Corrigin via Wickepin, farmer; 1958 retired to Lot 8 Mills road, Gosnells.