User:Peter Bayman/Ernest James Hammersley

''Ernest James Hammersley (born 1 August 1895, Lefroy, Tasmania) joined the Australian Imperial Forces on 11 November 1916 at Bardoc which is 30 miles North of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. He was 23 years of age and like many young Australians wanted to fight for "King and Country". He sailed from Perth on the SS Berima on 23 December 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on 16 February 1917. After spending time in England including getting the mumps in April 1917 and training at Fovent he arrived in Havre, France on 13 March 1918. On 24 April 1918 he was reported killed in action as follows:

No. 3453 - Pte Hammersley of 10 Bn was wounded through the arm in front line trench on April 24th 1918 at Meteran. To return to the dressing station he had to proceed about a mile through open country. After he left I know nothing of what happened to him. It was a severe wound, I could see through his arm - Dated and sign G. Birtie & Witnessed by Major R. Carson''

Medals - 1914/1918 Star; British War Medal No. 55333; Victory medal No. 54453 [Issued to his father Ernest James Hammersley who was living at that time in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (born 24 August 1858, East Tamar, Tasmania)]

Ernest James Hammersley body was never found, however, is memorialised at Villers Bretonneux, France and has a memorial at the Canberra War Memorial Panel No. 59 West