Ernest Appleyard
Ernest was
almost 31 years of age when he made the decision to fight in the Great
War. The fourth child and third
son of Jane and George Appleyard, Ernie was the sixth of their much loved sons to sign up when he was declared
fit for active service on the 1st of March, 1916.
His brothers, Gordon, Charles, Allan and Darcy were all in various positions across the Western Front whilst Leopold was in the Middle East. Ernie and his brother Walter tended to the family farms with his parents ageing and most of the local men of working age having already enlisted.
As well as his brothers, Ernie also had ten cousins fighting in the war. There was much pressure for young men to ‘do their bit’ and still much naivety around the perceived romanticism of being a soldier. Many families with young men still at home would receive white feathers, a sign of cowardice and design to pressure them into joining the war effort. There was also pressure from the British Government for Australia to send more men with an additional 50,000 men required by mid 1916 in addition to the 9,500 men already embarking each month.
In Australia, a census in late 1915 identified 600,000 men as being eligible for overseas service and in January, the official Victorian recruiting campaign was launched to engage those men. Compulsory military service through conscription was being debated in parliament and on the streets but at the same time, concern locally was growing over the drain on manpower to keep industry and the economy going. In many cases, women stepped up to take on many of the roles traditionally seen as jobs for the men.
I don’t know what the final motivation was for Ernie to register. His remaining brother Walter was married with 7 children at the time the Great War started and was working as a labourer, possibly leaving Ernie the only son to assist his ageing father at the time.
Ernie was sent to the 19th Depot in Geelong to commence his training in April, 1916, under the rank of Private, before being transferred to Royal Park in readiness to be sent overseas. Some may say that Ernie had a higher power looking after him as, in September 1916, Ernie received treatment for varicose veins, requiring time to convalesce at home and extending his time in Australia before embarking.
It was around this time that George and Jane would receive word that Gordon and Charles were missing, and soon after, that Gordon had been killed in action.
With three of their sons still fighting, one missing and one killed, there is no doubt that Jane and George would have been concerned, not only for their sons, but also for their farm.
On October 1, while Ernie was still at home, Jane would write to the Minister for Defence, requesting that he be discharged from the AIF.
I have 6 sons in the AIF. The first one went at the outbreak of the war in October 1914. He was in the Dardanelles for 6 months where he was invalided to England. He recovered and was sent to France some time ago and was killed on 14th August.
Another son was wounded about the same time in France and I cannot hear where he is or any tidings of him. Three other sons are in the thick of battle. The 6th son is still here in camp. He was ill and sent to the Base Hospital where he was operated on a month ago. He came home yesterday on sick leave for 16 days.
I am writing to ask you to give this son his discharge. He is the only one we have and his father is too old to look after the farm and I think we have given our share with the five boys who we might never see again. Please grant this request and discharge our son.
We shall be forever grateful to you.
This letter was received and acknowledged on October 3 and on October 14, Ernie returned to Royal Park as per orders however the wheels were already in motion to deliver Jane’s request. An internal memo dated October 14 states that Private Ernest Appleyard would report to Royal Park on October 16 at 11am to be discharged for family reasons.
Ernie would be officially discharged from the AIF on October 20 1916, returning to the farm in Binginwarri.
A close knit family, Ernie would remain in South Gippsland for the rest of his life. Never married, Ernie passed away in 1968 aged 85, and was buried with his brother Allan in the Alberton cemetery.
Ernest Appleyard
Born: April 1, 1885 Binginwarri, Victoria
Died: 1968, Yarram, Victoria
Relationship with Peter: Grandson
Image: Ernest Appleyard
His brothers, Gordon, Charles, Allan and Darcy were all in various positions across the Western Front whilst Leopold was in the Middle East. Ernie and his brother Walter tended to the family farms with his parents ageing and most of the local men of working age having already enlisted.
As well as his brothers, Ernie also had ten cousins fighting in the war. There was much pressure for young men to ‘do their bit’ and still much naivety around the perceived romanticism of being a soldier. Many families with young men still at home would receive white feathers, a sign of cowardice and design to pressure them into joining the war effort. There was also pressure from the British Government for Australia to send more men with an additional 50,000 men required by mid 1916 in addition to the 9,500 men already embarking each month.
In Australia, a census in late 1915 identified 600,000 men as being eligible for overseas service and in January, the official Victorian recruiting campaign was launched to engage those men. Compulsory military service through conscription was being debated in parliament and on the streets but at the same time, concern locally was growing over the drain on manpower to keep industry and the economy going. In many cases, women stepped up to take on many of the roles traditionally seen as jobs for the men.
I don’t know what the final motivation was for Ernie to register. His remaining brother Walter was married with 7 children at the time the Great War started and was working as a labourer, possibly leaving Ernie the only son to assist his ageing father at the time.
Ernie was sent to the 19th Depot in Geelong to commence his training in April, 1916, under the rank of Private, before being transferred to Royal Park in readiness to be sent overseas. Some may say that Ernie had a higher power looking after him as, in September 1916, Ernie received treatment for varicose veins, requiring time to convalesce at home and extending his time in Australia before embarking.
It was around this time that George and Jane would receive word that Gordon and Charles were missing, and soon after, that Gordon had been killed in action.
With three of their sons still fighting, one missing and one killed, there is no doubt that Jane and George would have been concerned, not only for their sons, but also for their farm.
On October 1, while Ernie was still at home, Jane would write to the Minister for Defence, requesting that he be discharged from the AIF.
I have 6 sons in the AIF. The first one went at the outbreak of the war in October 1914. He was in the Dardanelles for 6 months where he was invalided to England. He recovered and was sent to France some time ago and was killed on 14th August.
Another son was wounded about the same time in France and I cannot hear where he is or any tidings of him. Three other sons are in the thick of battle. The 6th son is still here in camp. He was ill and sent to the Base Hospital where he was operated on a month ago. He came home yesterday on sick leave for 16 days.
I am writing to ask you to give this son his discharge. He is the only one we have and his father is too old to look after the farm and I think we have given our share with the five boys who we might never see again. Please grant this request and discharge our son.
We shall be forever grateful to you.
This letter was received and acknowledged on October 3 and on October 14, Ernie returned to Royal Park as per orders however the wheels were already in motion to deliver Jane’s request. An internal memo dated October 14 states that Private Ernest Appleyard would report to Royal Park on October 16 at 11am to be discharged for family reasons.
Ernie would be officially discharged from the AIF on October 20 1916, returning to the farm in Binginwarri.
A close knit family, Ernie would remain in South Gippsland for the rest of his life. Never married, Ernie passed away in 1968 aged 85, and was buried with his brother Allan in the Alberton cemetery.
Born: April 1, 1885 Binginwarri, Victoria
Died: 1968, Yarram, Victoria
Relationship with Peter: Grandson
Image: Ernest Appleyard
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