SHEPHERDSON, Ernest William
| Service Number: | SX6339 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 June 1940, Wayville, SA |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Murray Bridge, SA, 23 November 1918 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Jun 1940: | Involvement Lieutenant, SX6339 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Wayville, SA | |
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, SX6339 | |
| 22 Jul 1942: | Honoured Military Medal, El Alamein, SX6339 Sergeant Ernest William Shepherdson MM, 2/43 Battalion of Murray Bridge, SA. He was awarded the Military Medal for outstanding leadership and courage for actions at El Alamein on 22/7/1942. Sgt Shepherdson and his platoon from A Company 2/43 Battalion were attached to 2/32 Battalion for the attack on El Makhaad ridge. He lead his men fearlessly in the face of machine gun fire and succeeded in knocking out many enemy posts. The platoon suffered many casualties but they continued attacking, and drove the enemy from an anti-tank gun position. He was wounded in this last action but still managed to bring in prisoners and escort them to the rear, before he was hospitalised. | |
| 8 Jul 1945: | Discharged | |
| 8 Jul 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, SX6339 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Keith Harrison
SX6339 Sergeant Ernest William Shepherdson MM, 2/43 Battalion of Murray Bridge, SA. He was awarded the Military Medal for outstanding leadership and courage for actions at El Alamein on 22/7/1942. Sgt Shepherdson and his platoon from A Company, 2/43 Infantry Battalion were attached to 2/32 Infantry Battalion for the attack on El Makhaad Ridge. He lead his men fearlessly in the face of machine gun fire and succeeded in knocking out many enemy posts. The platoon suffered many casualties but they continued attacking, and drove the enemy from an anti-tank gun position. He was wounded in this last action but still managed to bring in prisoners and escort them to the rear, before he was hospitalised. He later was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Bill Shepherdson was the son of Ernest John Shepherdso who served with the AIF at Gallipoli and the Western Front with the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/306405
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