REMFRY, Ernest John
| Service Number: | 17091 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 November 1925 |
| Last Rank: | Able Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 14 September 1906 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sailor |
| Died: | Killed in action, Indian Ocean, 20 November 1941, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Carnarvon HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Carnarvon Walk of Remembrance, Geraldton HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Mosman Bradleys Head HMAS Sydney Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Nov 1925: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, 17091 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Able Seaman, 17091, HMAS Sydney (II) - D48 WW2 |
Help us honour Ernest John Remfry's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ernest John Remry was one of the sons of Thomas Alexander and Sarah Bennett Remfry of Camperdown, New South Wales.
His father passed away in 1917 when Ernest was only 11 years of age.
He lost two elder brothers during the 1st World War. 4599 Pte. George William Remfry 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion died of wounds during the fighting around Pozieres on 19 August 1916, aged 21 and 1279 Lance Sergeant Henry Alfred Remfry M.M., 2nd Pioneer Battalion, was killed in action near Bullecourt, 5 May 1917, also aged 21.
Ernest joined the Royal Navy during 1925, when he was 19 years of age. He served in the Mediterranean with the Sydney during 1940 where she sank two Italian warships, participated in multiple shore bombardments, and provided support to the Malta Convoys. She returned with much fanfare to Sydney in 1941. On 19 November 1941, Sydney was involved in a disastrous engagement with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, and was lost with all hands.
Ernest had married to Ann Frieda during 1934 and was the father of a small girl. The local paper reported “Ernest John Remfry, 34, was known in the Sydney as “The Count”. His wife and six-year-old daughter, Lois, lived at Church Street, Newtown. Remfry's sister, Mrs. B. Booth, of Darlinghurst Road, last night told how his shipmates came to call him “The Count.”
“He was always such a neat and tidy person, and everything had to be just so. On the ship he provided little delicacies for himself because he was not always keen on the menu provided.” His sister also added that Remfry was a champion billiards player.
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