Ernest Wright Holroyd
From Our Contribution
 Courtesy Pickering Brook Heritage Group | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 4 Oct 1893 |
| Place of Birth | Greetland near Halifax, Yorkshire, England |
| Death |
8 Jun 1980, 86 years old "8 Jun 1980, 86 years old" contains more than three components required for a date interpretation. |
| Place of Death | Pickering Brook, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 years, 3 months |
| Description |
5'6" (1.m) tall ; 126lbs 57.153 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Sleeper hewer |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Greetland House, Gosnells, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr James Edward Holyroyd |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1819 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Jan 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 19 Apr 1915 ‒ ? May 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Date of Return | 31 Oct 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915 (Melbourne) |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (Medical) |
| Monument | Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
In 1901 the Holroyd family were living in Greetland, Yorkshire. When he was 6 years old, his twin brother drowned. When 17 years old, Ernest arrived in Fremantle aboard the SS Belgic on 23 Nov 1912, with his brother George (13) and sister Annie (20). They lived in Gosnells with relatives, before Ernest started work in Donnybrook.
War Service
On entering camp, Ernest was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. On 4 Jun 1915 he was taken on strength by the 16th Battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsular. However, by 15 Aug 1915 he was in need of medical attention and reported to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station with diarrhoea. The next day he was transferred to Mudros aboard HMT Scotian which was acting as a Hospital Ship, and then on to Alexandria.
On 25 Aug 1915 he had arrived back in Egypt and was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital before being transferred the same day to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. On 6 Sep 1915 he was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Convalescent Depot in Helouan and on 8 Oct 195 to the Convalescent Camp at Suez. Ernest was sent back to Australia for 12 months after a medical board.
On 6 Mar 1916 Ernest was discharged as Permanently Unfit for duty due to a strained back, debility and deafness.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries : 1924 - 1968 Pickering Brook road, Pickering Brook, labourer. Ernest worked for the State Electricity Commission from 1920 - 1921 and while doing so lost his left index finger.Ernest and George purchased land in Pickering Brook under the "Returned Soldier Settlement Scheme" in 1924. Their house is now heritage listed on the Kalamunda heritage Inventory. The brothers never married and lived at the house with colleagues from the Boya Quarry who had nowhere else to live.
Notes