Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ernest George Fathers was born on 10 January 1898 at Geraldton WA.

He was the 3rd eldest son of George and Ada Fathers who were married in Carlton Victoria on 18/2/1891. George was a carpenter joiner and eventually owned Millars Trading Timber Company after moving to Geraldton WA around 1897 with his family.

Ernest was one of 10 children – 4 sisters (2 died young) and 6 Brothers. Of the 6 brothers, 4 brothers enlisted during World War 1. Walter Lamont, Eugene Alfred, Ernest George and Albert Harold. Eugene, Albert and the youngest son Malcolm Haig all enlisted during World War 11.

Ernest was employed as a chauffeur when he enlisted on 18 January 1916, a week after he turned 18 years of age. His older brothers, Walter enlisted 17/8/14 and Eugene Alfred on 20/11/14 and both had served at Gallipoli, with Eugene being wounded 11/12/15. Despite their involvement in the horror of Gallipoli, Ernest still joined the Army as soon as he was able.
After initial training at Blackboy Hill, where his brothers trained, Ernest was sent overseas to France on 4/12/16 and posted to the 16th Battalion as reinforcement on 22/12/16. During the First Battle of Bullecourt, Ernest was reported missing. This was 11/4/17. He had been with his Battalion for less than 4 months and he was only 19 years and 3 months when he became a Prisoner of War.
Eventually it was determined that Ern had been captured at Reincourt France and was interred at Limburg. Ernest was held as a POW for about 20 months. At the end of the War, Ernest was repatriated from Germany to England on 17/12/18 and returned to Australia on the SS Ascanius on 9/1/19. Coincidently, the SS Ascanius was the ship that older brother Walter was on board as part of the initial Australian Army contingent bound for England at the start of Australia’s war but diverted to Mena in Cairo, Egypt prior to going to Gallipoli.
After the War, Ern and his older brother Walter moved from WA to South Australia. Ern married a local Adelaide girl, Edna and settled in Adelaide until his death 20th August 1980. He is buried in the Derrick Gardens at Centennial Park, which is specifically designated for Returned Service personnel. His brother Walter, is buried 5 plots away so two of the brothers remain close together even in death.