HILL, Ernest Walter
| Service Number: | 5105 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia , 15 February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Mascot, Botany Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Mascot Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Glass worker |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gueudecourt, France, 4 February 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mascot War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5105, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5105, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5105, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of Victoria, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ernest Walter Hill was the son of William and Emily Hill of Mascot, New South Wales. He joined the 13th Battalion in France during August 1916.
On 4 February 1917, the 13th Battalion arranged to attack Stormy Trench at 10.00 p.m. A company of the 14th Battalion stayed in the Australian trench as support. The artillery support was double that of an attack on the 1 February by the 15th Battalion and started at 9.58 p.m., a heavy creeping barrage. A stock of 12,000 hand grenades was laid in at the jumping off trench and another 8,000 grenades were stored at the battalion headquarters. Carriers to supply the specialist bombers took as many as possible, which amounted to about 2,000 grenades for each company. Since the German grenade throwers had out-ranged the Australians on 1 February, 1,000 rifle grenades were also provided. The barrage began at 9:58 p.m., the Australians swiftly crossed no man's land and caught the trench garrison in their shelters, except on the right where a brief bombing engagement took place, before the Australians began to consolidate the trench, about twenty minutes after the advance began. The Germans began a heavy counter-barrage almost immediately, which caught the company of the 14th Battalion in the jumping off trench. Counter-attacks began on the right flank and bombing fights began and continued until dawn. The Germans eventually gave up and accepted the loss of Stormy Trench. Captain Harry Murray was awarded a Victoria Cross for his gallantry during the fighting.
Ernest was seen to be killed by a shell in the captured German trench. His body was placed on the parados whilst the heavy fighting continued. He has no known grave.
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