CAREY, Ernest Robert Dunbar
| Service Number: | 5667 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Musician, Composer and Chorister |
| Died: | 1960, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5667, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5667, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne |
Help us honour Ernest Robert Dunbar Carey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Susan Weisser
Son of Alice Waterworth and Ernest William Carey, Ernest Robert Dunbar Carey was born at Hawthorn on 12 August 1897. His parents divorced when he was only 2 ½ years old.
Known as “Bert” or “Dunbar Carey” he served in WW I in the Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery, Service Number 5667. He enlisted at Prahran on 24 February 1916 and was assigned to 17th Regiment, 5th Battalion on 3 April 1916. He sailed on the 'Euripedes' on 4th April 1916 and was in France from 30 July 1916 with the 2nd Light Trench Mortar . He was Wounded In Action in October 1917 with Shrapnel/ Gun shot wound to the left foot and severe injury to the left wrist. Repatriated home due to his injuries he was discharged in 1918 before the end of the war.
The “Carey Papers” in the Australian National Library Collection includes a photo of Dunbar Carey and another serviceman in a trench at Bullecourt in France as part of the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery. The photo was taken by C.E.W. Bean who was the Official Australian War Historian. This photo was published in the “Anzac Bulletin” and “Australia and the Great War”. It was also published in the “Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918- Vol IV -The AIF in France 1917. The caption to this photograph in the book reads “A Stoker Mortar of the 2nd Brigade in the Hindenburg Line, 8th May 1917. The mortar is seen covered on the left. The crew are Privates A A MacTaggert and E R Carey”. Private MacTaggart was awarded the Belgian “Medaille Militaire” for his work in Belgium.
E R Dunbar Carey was a well-known musician and conducted several orchestras. He wrote the words to 'All For Australia' which was the official anthem of the All For Australia League (music by Ernest Dunbar and words by Edmond T. Luke, copywrited in 1931). He wrote the words and music to 'Just Plain Johnnie' which was a song dedicated to Miss Amy Johnston in honour of her solo flight from England to Australia in May 1930 and this was produced on record by Phonograph Embassy Records No 2097 for 2/6 each. He also wrote 'Song For Caloundra' in 1954.
The National Library collection includes a typed listing covering two foolscap pages of all his compositions. It also contains a number of his original manuscripts and letters.
Bert married Elsie Perkins on 1st March 1927 and they had three children – John Lindsey Carey born 1928, Bruce Dunbar Carey born 1929 and Leslie Carey born 1934.
Bert was a Chorister at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne throughout his life - joining in 1905 as an “Apprentice Chorister” (apprentice papers in the National Library). Active in the Old Choir Boys Association throughout his life.
Bert died in New Zealand whilst visiting there. His funeral was held on 29th April 1960 at St Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne.
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