BOTT, Ernest George Henry
| Service Number: | 4979 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 February 1916, Bendigo, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mincha, Victoria, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Kerang, Gannawarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Murphy Lake State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium, 4 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4979, Bendigo, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4979, 21st Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: Incorrectly recorded on original roll as George Ernest Henry Bott | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4979, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 29 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 May 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Bullecourt (Second), For conspicuous gallantry in command of a bombing party near Bullecourt when he succeeded in maintaining his ground over 18 hours against repeated attacks until his Battalion was relieved. | |
| 8 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 4979, 21st Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4979 awm_unit: 21st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-10-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Kerri Sidorow
Ernest George Henry Bott (Ernie)was born at Pyramid Hill in 1883, the youngest son of Henry and Mary Ann Bott (Rippon). He was brother to Will, Theo, Jessie, Lottie and Ethel.
When Ernest enlisted on the 14 February 1916 he had been serving for 12 months in the Mounted Rifles. He was farming with his father at Murphys Lake, about 10 km south of Kerang.
Ernest was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry in command of a bombing party near Bullecourt when he succeeded in maintaining his ground over 18 hours against repeated attacks until his Battalion was relieved.
Insight into Ernest's character is revealed in this letter from Private D.C. Dawson, published in The Bedigonian on the 24 January 1918:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Bott, probably by the time you have received this letter you will already have had a cable or information to the effect that your son, Ernest, was killed in action on the 4th October. It is my sad duty to write you, and if you have not already heard, I trust you will pardon me for being the medium through which this sad news should come to you. You may remember that I was with Mr. Addison in the Union Bank, Kerang, as his accountant, and in coming to France I had only met Ernie about once in the trenches, when Hughie Rundle, who was slightly wounded in the stunt, brought me over to Ernie's tent, where we had quite a long interesting conversation. Since then Ernie and I had been often together; and it was only the fact that he was in a different battalion that kept us from seeing more of each other. Ernie was a good soldier, and a splendid companion, and would have risen high in rank if it had not been by his own wish that he should be left with his own comrades. Promotion had no attraction for him provided he was left with the boys he knew so well. Promotion had to come, however, and he rose to the rank of corporal, and was also decorated for his gallant conduct at Bullecourt. I believe he was killed along with an officer in the jump off tape, just prior to the attack. I myself was in the first wave, and was supported by Ernie's battalion, and it may help to alleviate your suffering when I inform you that we gained a glorious victory over the Hun—an advance over a mile. Just before going in the line Ernie and I exchanged addresses, so that in the event of either of us falling the other should write to our parents. I trust, Mrs. Bott, yourself and Miss Bott will accept my sincere sympathy in your berevement. Any information that I can supply will be gladly given. If I have the luck to come through I will certainly look you up. Believe me—
Yours, etc., Private D. C. Dawson.
Fourteen of Ernest's cousins served in 'the colours'. One of them, Sergeant Jack Bott, of Queensland was also awarded the Military Medal.
In his will Ernest left his estate of 135 pounds to his father, mother and sister in equal shares, along with 20 pounds to buy a watch and chain for each of his bothers and sisters,
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