COLE, Ernest Robert
| Service Number: | 66675 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 August 1918 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW) |
| Born: | Byrock, New South Wales, Australia, 14 August 1896 |
| Home Town: | Mogriguy, Dubbo Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, 24 December 1990, aged 94 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Eumungerie - Coboco RSL Memorial, Eumungerie Mogriguy Soldiers WWI Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Aug 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 66675, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW) | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 66675, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Wyreema embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 14 Oct 1918: | Embarked Private, 66675, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), SS Wyreema, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ernest Robert Cole was the son of Thomas and Rose Cole, of Mogriguy, New South Wales. Five of his brothers also enlisted in the AIF and embarked for overseas service during WW1.
Ernest enlisted in August 1918 and left Australia during October 1918 but his ship was recalled to Australia due to the cessation of hostilities at the Armistice.
His brother 2123 Private William Henry Cole was killed at Pozieres on 31 July 1916 and another brother, 2121 Lce. Cpl. John ‘Jack’ Alexander Cole died of wounds in Belgium only five weeks later on 13 September 1916, aged 22.
Two other brothers were sent home with serious wounds and a fifth brother returned to Australia on ‘1914 leave’ during 1918.
The Dubbo Dispatch reported on the send off to Ernest in October 1918, “In the Mogriguy Hall last night there was a large gathering to bid adieu to Pte. E. Cole, the sixth soldier son of Mr. and Mrs. Cole. Two of the boys who enlisted are dead, one has returned wounded, and two are yet in the firing line. This is a district record; as a matter of fact, very few parents in this State — indeed, in the Commonwealth — have been represented by six sons in the firing line. At the function last night Mr. F. Stroud presided, and Mr. W. H. Godwin, on behalf of the people of Mogriguy, presented the guest with a gold wrist watch.”
Ernest married and lived in Dubbo after the war, raising seven children and served again during WW2.
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