DOREY, Ernest Roy
| Service Number: | 3807 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 5 January 1896 |
| Home Town: | Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Acute bronchopneumonia , Waverley, New South Wales, Australia, 8 May 1978, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales 9_zone C/#/2488 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 3 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), During Bullecourt (second) Ernest received a gunshot wound to his chest and was evacuated to causality clearing station . | |
| 14 May 1918: | Wounded Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion, During the Battle of Morlancourt Ernest received a gunshot wound to his face and was evacuated to causality clearing station | |
| 31 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3807, 17th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Ernest Roy Dorey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Shayden Wadley
First wounded in action on the 3rd May 1917 and transferred to England with a gunshot wound to the abdomen or chest. He had been wounded in a successful attack on the Hindenburgh Line at Vaux near Arras, Northern France. He returned to France on the 24th October 1917. He was wounded in action for a 2nd time on the 14th May 1918 at Sailly-le-Sec near the Somme near Amiens, and transferred to hospital in Bristol with a gunshot wound to the face and a fractured nose and was returned to Australia on the 11th December 1918.
Biography contributed by Shayden Wadley
A brief history of Ernest Roy Dorey (5th January 1896-4th May 1978)
Ernest Roy Dorey was born on 5th January 1896 in Darlington N.S.W to Charles Archibald Dorey & Elizabeth Anne Dorey née Smith , Ernest had a healthy childhood, and completed his education up to the 6th class. He then worked as a painter and labourer until 1915 his residential address was listed as:
Yamba cottage , Kent street Rockdale, Sydney
Ernests service record 1915-1918
Ernest enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 10th September 1915 at the Agricultural Ground in New South Wale, his rank was private and military number (3807). His enlistment document shows that he was appointed to the special tramway division . It seems that the need oversees for servicemen was greater. He departed overseas and disembarked at Plymouth, England on 7th June 1916 aboard the HMAT Magnetic. From here Ernest proceeded to France on 5th September 1916 and the following day 6th September he was taken on strength (T.O.S) at the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples , France which was a training facility for Australian soldiers . It was here that Australian soldiers received training in gas warfare and bayonet drill at the base depot.
British officers gave the soldiers a strict medical check and military tests.
The training depot was known as the "Bull Ring" and was known for its harsh regime and bullying
On the 15 September 1916 Ernest joined his battalion in Belgium .
He served in the trenches of France and Belgium with the 17th Infantry Battalion, Charlie company. Ernest sustained his first injury on 3rd May 1917 during the Second Battle of Bullecourt which from history shows that this battle was an absolute blood bath with many casualties Ernest being one of those casualties he suffered a gunshot wound to his chest, he was sent to the No 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, two days later he was admitted to the 11th stationary hospital quite possibly in Rouen but not sure on this .
On the 14th May 1917 he was discharged to England on the “Aberdonian” and on the 15th May 1917 he was admitted to the 1st General hospital. About one month later on the 16th June Ernest marched in from Perham Downs to the 5th training battalion.
On the 27th June he transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary hospital. He was on leave from the 30th July 1917 and marched in to the No.1 clearing Depot on the 13th August 1917 he was classed as B.1a1 (Fit for light duty only - 4 weeks) on the 17th September Ernest was declassed as B.1a4 ( Fit for overseas training camp when passed dentally fit) he was still at the No.1 clearing depot at this point .
On the 26th September 1917 he marched out to oversees training brigade ; Perham downs (nicknamed Perishing Downs) is located north of Salisbury, between Tidworth & Ludgershall on the northern edge of the Salisbury Plain. On the 24th October 1917 Ernest proceeded back oversees to France . On the 25th October 1917 he marched in to 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot Le Havre, France . It was on the 30th October 1917 that Ernest rejoined his battalion.
His second injury occurred on 14th May 1918 at the Combat of Morlancourt, where he received a gunshot wound to his face and fractured upper jaw. (The document states that he did not notice his present trouble until in hospital at Bristol. He was at the 2nd Southern General Hospital Bristol from 28th May 1918 till 5th July 1918.) backtracking slightly , on the 18th May 1918 Ernest was admitted to the 1st U.S.A general hospital then on the 27th May he embarked to England on the “Panama” . Details above from the 28th May .
From the 5th of July 1918 till the 19th July 1918 Ernest was on leave. On the 19th July he marched in from Army headquarters and reported to No.1 clearing depot it seems again he was on leave and was declassed as B.1a3 (Fit for overseas training camp in two to three weeks )
On the 11th December 1918 Ernest marched out for return to Australia , the document states he returned to Australia per “Saxson” from England . On the 31st March 1919 Ernest was discharged by medical unit .
Life after the war :
Ernest Roy Dorey (24) married Winifred Maud Kirby (22) on 3rd April 1920 at Saint Andrew church, Peckham: Glengall Road, Southwark, England .
The addresses on the marriage certificate show Ernest living at 19. Nelson square and Winifred at 14 Mormont Road, Peckham .
It is said that the couple met while walking through a park in the local area.
They had two children, Edna Dorey, who passed away at a young age, and Irene Winifred Watkins (née Dorey), my great-grandmother.
The family returned to Australia on the 26th July 1921 on the ship “Honorata” . Ernest attended a tannery training school for three years but was put off due to slackness in trade . He experienced a period of unemployment lasting two years, during which he relied on his war pension to live. Ernest struggled with depression, insomnia, and night terrors, and suffered from severe neck pain, indicative of the traumatic experiences he endured during the war (his official diagnosis was D.A.H which is a disease of the heart, also effort syndrome another name for post traumatic stress disorder) which they didn’t fully understand back then .
He was admitted to Callan Park as a voluntary patient in 20th January 1931 and was in and out of the facility frequently.
Ernest worked with the Sydney Water Board for many years and retired in 1966. The family resided at 72 Elizabeth Street, Paddington, Ernest passed away on 4th May 1978 at Phillip House Nursing Home in Waverley. He is buried at Rookwood general cemetery:
Cemetery Section
9_ Zone C, #
Allotment Number
2487
I wanted to share my great-great-grandfathers history for future generations to come. These records must be kept and memories remembered, although I never met Ernest which is a shame my extensive research of him has shown me the character he was he clearly gave up everything for his family country and in turn our freedom.
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