Ernest Arnold Fallon
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24 Jul 1909 |
| Place of Birth | Darkan, Western Australia |
| Death | 19 May 1977 |
| Place of Death | Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 31 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'3" (1.60m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair ; Tattoo both arms, appendix scar. |
| Occupation | Timber worker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Sixth road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Steve Fallon |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX9203 |
| Date of Enlistment | 30 Oct 1940 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/13th Australian Field Ambulance |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 5 Jul 1941 ‒ 25 Jul 1941 |
| Transport Details | HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Port Tewfik |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 28 Mar 1942 ‒ 20 Apr 1942 |
| Transport Details | MV Melbourne Star Egypt to Port Adelaide |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 12 Apr 1945 ‒ 21 Apr 1945 |
| Transport Details | unknown Cairns to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 31 May 1945 |
| Transport Details | USS LST 574 Morotai to British North Borneo |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 13 Nov 1945 ‒ 23 Nov 1945 |
| Transport Details | AHS2 Wanganella Lubuan to Sydney |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Attestation form originally filled in with surname Jones which was crossed out and Fallon later inserted when he made a sworn declaration re surname. Enlisted at Claremont, and on 27 Nov 1940 he was sent to Northam to join the No 3 Deport Battalion. Another transfer was to follow, on 20 Dec 1940 to the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC). On 21 Mar 1941 he was allocated to the 2nd reinforcement draft for the 2/13th Australian Field Ambulance where on 29 Mar 1941 he was charged with being AWOL from 8:30am until 6:30pm on that day. Fined 10/- ($1) and to forfeit a days pay (5/-). From 3 until 7 Apr 1941 he was granted leave, and then on 3 May 1941 he was charged with Breaking out of Camp, and being AWOL from 8:30am 25 Apr 1941 until 5:45pm the same day. Fined £1 ($2), forfeited a days pay (5/-) and given 14 days Confined to Barracks.
However, the need to fit in his pre-embarkation leave took precedence and he enjoyed this from 28 Apr until 7 May 1941. On his return, on 17 Jun 1941 he corrected his name before embarking on Convoy US 11A which comprised the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth and the SS Aquitania. The Aquitania was the only ship to berth in Fremantle, and while the troops boarded expeditiously, the convoy remained in Fremantle for five days before sailing for Colombo, and eventually Port Tewfik (Suez) in Egypt, where they disembarked their troops on 25 Jul 1941.
On arrival in Egypt Ernie was sent to the AAMC Training Wing before officially joining the Field Ambulance on 2 Sep 1941. On 4 Nov 1941 he was charged with having been AWOL the previous day from 8:30am until 3:00pm, and received the light punishment of being Admonished and forfeiting the days pay. However the Commanding Officer's good humour did not last and on 11 Dec 1941 when he was charged with Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, he was fined £2 ($4). On 28 Mar 1942 he boarded the MV Melbourne Star, disembarking in Port Adelaide on 20 Apr 1942.
While his unit was in South Australia Ernie was charged with a series of misdemeanours: On 27 Jun 1942 Neglecting to obey an Area order - 7 days confined to barracks; on 24 Sep 1942 AWOL from 12:30pm until 7:00pm - Fined £1 and forfeit of a day's pay (5/-); on 25 Sep 1943 Failing to appear at a place of parade appointed by his Commanding Officer - Fined £1; on 24 Sep 1942; on 5 Nov 192 Disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer - 4 days confined to barracks.
On 15 Jan 1943 along with the rest of his unit he moved to the Northern Territory where the Field Ambulance provided medical support for a range of units. On 2 Oct 1943 he had developed inflammation of the neck lymph nodes (adenitis of the neck), and was evacuated to the 107th Australian General Hospital. On 9 Oct 1943 he was moved to the 101st Australian General Hospital, and on 15 Oct 1943 to the 12th Australian Division Recuperation Camp, and the next day he rejoined his unit. On 1 Dec 1943 he was granted Proficiency Pay, and on 15 Dec 1943 he was released for leave in Western Australia.
Ernie had returned to New South Wales, and on 18 Feb 1944 he embarked in Sydney for Darwin, arriving there on 28 Feb 1944. On 30 May 1944 he was again on the move, this time to Queensland, where on 12 Apr 1945 he embarked in Cairns for Morotai, arriving there on 21 Apr 1945. On 31 May 1945 he embarked for British North Borneo on USS LST 574.
Ernie embarked on the AHS2 Wanganella in Labuan on 13 Nov 1945 for Sydney where he disembarked on 23 Nov 1945, and was discharged on 12 Dec 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1958 at Seventh road, Armadale, farmer; 1968 at 193 Lord street, Perth, no occupation; 1972 - 1977 Sunset Home for Men, Dalkeith.
Notes