S5151 Mounted
HILTON, Alfred Ernest Edward
| Service Numbers: | 2095, SX11869, SX22716, S25657, SX22716 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 July 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Renmark, South Australia, 12 November 1897 |
| Home Town: | Renmark, Renmark Paringa, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Telegraph Messenger |
| Died: | Renmark, Renmark Paringa - South Australia, 13 June 1965, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Renmark Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Officers of S.A. Post, Telegraph and Telephone Department HR, Men from Renmark and District Roll of Honor Boards (4) |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2095, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2095, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2095, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 15 Oct 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2095, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Jun 1919: | Honoured Military Medal |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Mar 1941: | Involvement Lieutenant, SX11869 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Wayville, SA | |
| 22 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Lieutenant, SX11869 | |
| 22 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, SX11869 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Involvement Major, SX11869 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Involvement Major, SX22716 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Involvement Major, S25657 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Major, SX22716 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, SX22716 | |
| 15 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Wallgrove, NSW | |
| 31 Oct 1944: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Aloysius College
ALFRED ERNEST HILTON WW1
Alfred Ernest Hilton (known as "Ern") was born on March 8th, 1898. He was a telegraph messenger and he lived with his mother, Martha Clare Hilton. When he was 18, an opportunity was given. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to travel the world with your mates while serving in the army as a soldier. He grew up in Renmark, Adelaide and opportunities like these don’t come often.
On the 3rd July, 1916 he enlisted into the AIF. He measured 5 feet and 4 inches tall, with a pale complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He left his whole life behind in Renmark in hopes of an adventure.
He boarded HMAT A68 Anchises which made five journeys from Australia as a troop ship. He left Adelaide on 28th August and arrived in England on 11th October 1916. Even though the Australian soldiers and he had passed in England as fully trained, they had to undergo a strict medical check and at least another 10 days of strict training. It was a strict routine, training hours were from 8:30am to 4:30pm on week days and from 8:30am to 12:30pm with 30 minutes of physical training before breakfast. Training in winter for 10 additional days proved frustrating to soldiers and as a result many left or went missing.
On the 13th April, 1917 Hilton was taken on strength to the 43rd battalion, serving through the bloody battles at Messines in June and near Ypres in October. He was sent to England on leave in February, 1918. He was promoted to corporal on the 15th October, 1918 and saw out the rest of the war.
After returning back to his battalion in France, he travelled backed to London on the 2nd January, 1919. While he was still in London, a medal was sent to his home in Australia. His mother collected it, as he hadn’t arrived back from London yet. He left England to return back to Australia on the 9th November 1919 and was discharged on 24th February 1920. He was awarded 3 medals in total (military medal, British war medal and the victory medal). In later life he managed the Shell depot at Renmark and was president of the local RSA.
Hilton re-enlisted twice in the Second World War. In March 1941 he enlisted in the 48h Battalion, apparently without ever leaving Ausralia. At some point he was discharged, because in July 1942 he re-enlisted, serving in training units and rising to the rank of Major.
He died on the 13th June 1965, age 67.
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