ZIMMERLE, Ernest (Earnest) William
| Service Number: | 1931 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Drayton, Queensland, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Memorials: | Wondai Shire Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boorara embarkation_ship_number: A42 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Attempt to raid enemy trenches was held up by the cross fire of enemy machine guns. The Attack was withdrawn. | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Passchendaele | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| 20 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1931, 42nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Glenunga International High School
Ernest William Zimmerle, Son of Mrs Rose Zimmerle, was a Private in the 42nd Battalion. Before the war, Earnest was a butcher in the small country town of Meringandan.
Ernest William Zimmerle enlisted in the 42nd Infantry Battalion on the 19th of January 1916 and on the 16th of August he embarked on the HMAT Boorara as a Private in the Australian Army.
In the winter of 1916 Ernest's Battalion was stationed in Bailleul, a commune in the north of France. Shortly thereafter, the 42nd Battalion moved to Belgium where they participated in many conflicts such as the Battle of Warneton in late July, The Battle of Broodseinde in early October and the Battle of Passchendaele on the 12th of October where the Battalion was heavily gassed by the Germans. Earnest was not killed in any of these battles. The Battalion remained in Belgium for the subsequent 5 months until they transported to France in March of 1918 to help with the German Spring Offensive.
Earnest and his Battalion were involved in the Battle of Hamel on the 4th of July 1918 with heavy casualties. The Battalion was Disbanded on 22nd of October to provide reinforcement for other AIF units.