Ernest Charles Thomas

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Pinjarrah, Western Australia
Death	29 Sep 1917
Place of Death	Ypres, belgium
Age at Enlistment	32 years old
Description	5'7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 166 lbs (75.3kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair.
Occupation	timber worker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Mornington Mills, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Ella Thomas
Military Information
Reg Number	6341
Date of Enlistment	6 Apr 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 20th Reinforcements / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk
Fate	Wounded in action 26 Sep 1917 Died of Wounds 29 Sep 1917
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Ten days after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Ernest was allocated to the 20th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. During training he was given the rank of Lance Corporal until he travelled to France when he reverted to Private.

On arrival in England he was sent to the 4th Training Battalion to prepare for action on the Western Front, and embarked on HMT Princess Victoria for France in Folkestone Harbour on 16 Jan 1917.

In France he spent three days in the 4th Division's Base Depot before joining the 16th Battalion at Mametz where it was performing general fatigue duties in a rear camp. On 15 Mar 1917 Ernest was seen by the 13th Australian Field Ambulance who treated him for scabies until 21 Mar 1917 when he returned to duty. Soon after, on 14 Jun 1917 Ernest was charged with being Absent from his billet at 9:30pm; and, When on active service, being in town without a pass. His award was forfeiture of 7 days pay.

Despite this, on 11 Aug 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal, before being badly wounded in action on 26 Sep 1917. During the attack that was to become known as Polygon Wood, Ernest was a victim of a shell. Reciving wounds to both legs and an arm, he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, but following surgery to remove both legs due to compound fractures, he died from those wounds on 29 Sep 1917.

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  Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery courtesy CWGC
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Wife Ella was granted a pension of 40/- pf from 12 Dec 1917; her son Leslie Ernest Charles receives 20/- pf; daughter Amy May 15/- pf; son Ernest Alfred 10/- per fortnight; daughter May Elizabeth 10/- per fortnight and son Reginald William 10/- per fortnight. Other children, living in Kalgoorlie were also to receive pensions, son Lionel Gordon 20/- pf; and daughter Hazel Hope 15/- per fortnight.