Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

While men were overseas, enduring the travails of life at the Front, their families anxiously waited at home, ever hopeful that the mail would bring a letter from the Front, but ever anxious about the possible arrival of a telegram or worse, a visitor with the news that everyone dreaded. The anxious letters of Elizabeth Eldridge, of Crowther St (off Waymouth St.) Adelaide, the mother of Ernest Eldridge of the 32nd Battalion can stand for all the other mothers wives and girlfriends who often lay awake at night, worrying and imagining.

Ernest Eldridge, an Adelaide labourer, had just turned 20 when he enlisted in July 1915, and was posted to B Coy in the newly formed 32nd Infantry Battalion. He was nearly 24 when he returned in 1919. His older brother, Walter, had enlisted 2 months after him, and after leaving with the 2nd Reinforcements of the 32nd, was transferred to the 15th Battalion in Egypt.

Unfortunately for their mother, both her boys were not letter writers, so, perhaps exclusively, the only news she received was from the telegrams when they were reported ill or wounded, and occasional reports from returned men. Mrs. Eldridge was reluctant to ‘worry’ Base Records, but understandably, her anxiety prompted her to write seeking information and reassurance.

Her first letter about Ern was written in October 1916 ‘twelve months on the 18th of next month’ after he left Adelaide. She had heard that Ern was in England and had been sick. ‘If you could kindly let me know what is wrong with him I would be very much oblige for your kindness. I am his mother and it is making me very ill worrying over him. If I only knew what is wrong with him and where he was I would be more contented.'

Base Records could only tell her that her son had been reported ill in Egypt on New Year’s Day 1916, and in the absence of further news should be regarded as being as being with his Battalion. He re-joined the battalion in September.

Mrs. Eldridge hung on till August 1917 when ‘very sorry to worry you’ and ‘’trusting dear friend I am not putting you to any trouble’, she wrote again to Base Records. ‘I have had no letters from him for such a long time. It is making me real ill wondering if my son is alright. I sometimes think perhaps he is laying in hospital and can’t write… I am his mother and I have a feeling for my dear son who was so good to me.' She was told that there had been no report of her son being admitted to hospital.

In October, Ernest was admitted to hospital with ‘GSW to head and hands’. Mrs Eldridge, on being told of the news, wrote again, seemingly more concerned about the wound to his hand rather than his head. ‘It gave me a great shock indeed as he was a real good boy to me concerning he had no father. What I want to know if only you could relieve me. Is his hands off or is any of his fingers off. I would very much like to know as you know I have a real mother’s love towards my poor lad who is so far away. If I only knew exact where he was shot through the palm of the hand or if his hands are right off. It is dreadful for me to hear.'

Base Records replied with a little more sensitivity than was sometimes the case, trying to be as reassuring as possible, but with no further information. They were able to tell her that her other son was returning to Australia. Walter had been wounded in the elbow at Pozieres – and as a result, his left hand was ‘practically useless.’ Possibly this injury contributed to his mother’s fears for Ernest’s hands.

Fortunately, Ernest’s wounds were not as serious as they sounded, and he returned to France in January 1918, and he remained with the Battalion until the end of the war. His mother must have been very proud when her son was awarded the Military Medal for his ‘bravery and devotion to duty’ in late August 1918, when acting as stretcher bearer in the face of very heavy machine gun fire.

She was no doubt waiting at Outer Harbour when her son disembarked on 27 May 1919.