Ernest (Roy) William Sladden
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 Jul 1896 |
| Place of Birth | Leederville, Western Australia |
| Death | 12 Apr 1957 |
| Place of Death | Claremont, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 8 months |
| Description |
5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; light complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Locomotive Fireman |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Sarah Sladden |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2731 |
| Date of Enlistment | 20 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 13 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk |
| Date of Return | 31 Jan 1918 ‒ 6 Apr 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong School Roll of Honour Mundijong Honour Roll Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Signed his enlistment papers in Jarrahdale. A fortnight after entering camp, Ernest was allocated from the 64th Depot Company to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. Roy sailed with them to England, arriving in Plymouth.
On arrival in England he joined the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. In December he presented to the Codford hospital and the Sutton Veny hospital with a non specific infection, before proceeding overseas to France on HMT Princess Victoria from Folkestone on 4 Feb 1917. Given his later medical history, these visits to hospital were probably related to his bronchial system. Roy was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion on 15 Feb 1917.
On 19 May 1917 he again reported to hospital, this time to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station where he was diagnosed with bronchitis and passed to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen. By 7 Sep 1917, he was more seriously ill with bronchitis, requiring his evacuation to England aboard HMHS Essequibo. On arrival he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Southwark, London.
There on 1 Nov 1917 he was charged with being absent from his ward from 9:25pm till 11:00pm, awarded a day's lost pay, and again on 3 Nov 1917 when he was charged with being absent from his ward from 8:30pm to 9:55pm, and for disobeying Hospital Regulations. Awarded the forfeiture of a day's pay.
With the decision made to send him home for medical reasons, he managed one last hurrah - AWOL at Sutton Veny from 3:00pm on 29 Dec 1917 till 11:00pm on 30 Dec 1917. This time he was docked 2 days pay.
Discharged on Medical grounds - Bronchitis by 5th Military District on 22 Apr 1918.
Post War
Married Elsie Florence Eggeling during 1924 in Fremantle. Son Ernest Henry Anderson Sladden was born 5 Apr 1925, and died in 1988
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 at 38 Smyth road, West Subiaco, guard; 1931 - 1937 at 86 Basinghall street, Victoria Park, fitter; 1943 - 1949 at 17 Barnfield road, Claremont, fireman
Ernest also served during WW2 as a member of the Citizen's Military Forcer from 24 Nov 1941 until 14 May 1946. His last posting was as a Sapper with the 3rd Australian Hospital maintenance Platoon.
Notes