Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ernest Jenner (also spelt Genner) was likely born around 1872.

He served with the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushman in the Boer War as a Private. It is unclear why he joined a Queensland contigent rather than a New South Wales contingent.

Upon returning to Australia, he joined the New South Wales Police Service in October 1902 and spent a year as a probationary constable before becoming an Ordinary Constable in October 1903 and stationed at Nyngan.

A year later, he married Margaret Ellen Johnson in Bourke and the pair welcomed their first child, William Ellwood, in June of 1905 while living in Nyngan.

Constable Genner was appointed Bailiff of the small debts court at Wanaaring and served for a period of six months from November 1906 until May 1907.

The couple potentially had a son named Edward Ernest in 1907 while living in Yantabulla, outside of Bourke, however, this birth was not registered.

While still in Yantabulla, they welcomed another son, Oswald Gerald Lack, in July of 1908. They travelled to have Oswald baptised at St. Thomas' Anglican Church in North Sydney on the 9th of August.

Two years later, they welcomed their first and only daughter, Sylvia Victoria, in Macksville, likley during Ernest time stationed with police at Nambucca Heads until July 1913. It was here that he was first promoted; to Constable 1st Class in 1911.

From Nambucca Heads, Ernest was then stationed at Howe's Valley, near Singleton, from July 1913 until December of 1915.

Ernest was then transferred to Corrangbong in January 1916. This same year, he and Margaret welcomed their youngest child, Henry Douglas (known as Harry).

Ernest spent four years stationed at Corranbong until the Courthouse was moved to Morriset in January 1920. This same year, he was promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class.

There is little information about his subsequent movements until he is noted in the Police Gazzette as being transferred from Oberon to Bourke as Sergeant 3rd Class, Mounted in 1923.

-Bathurst (three years service until December 1926)

-Braidwood (from December 1926- October 1932)

Six years later, upon his transfer to Braidwood, he was promoted to Sergeant 2nd Class. Genner was in charge of the Braidwood police station for five years until his retirment in 1932.

In November of 1933, Ernest was awarded the Imperial service medal for his 30 years of service with the New South Wales Police.

Sylvia, Ernest's only daughter, was married in 1935 to Eric Montague Fanker. Ernest also lived to see the birth of his grandaughters; Margaret Anne Fanker (1937), Elizabeth Genner (1939), and Catherine Genner; and marriages of his sons Oswald (1938), William (1938), Harry (1943) and Edward (1944).

Both Harry and William served in the Military reserves and went on to serve in the Second World War. Both sons won gallantry awards for their service.

Ernest's son, Oswald, passed away in 1955 at just 45.

Ernest passed away in Kingsford, New South Wales at the age of 88 in early July 1960. His wife, Margaret, survived him. She passed away five years later in 1965.