LENNAN, Ernest Albury
| Service Number: | 614 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 October 1914, Enoggera, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia , 2 September 1880 |
| Home Town: | Tamworth, Tamworth Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Died of Wounds whilst prisoner of war, Sachsenberg, Germany, 12 February 1917, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Tamworth ANZAC Park Memorial Gates, Tamworth Public School WW1 Roll of Honor, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 614, 15th Infantry Battalion, Enoggera, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 614, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 9 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, 614, 15th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW upper extremity. | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, 614, 15th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, GSW left elbow | |
| 23 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, 614, 15th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Shrapnel wound arm | |
| 1 Feb 1917: | Imprisoned Wounded & Missing - taken prisoner. | |
| 12 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 614, 15th Infantry Battalion, Killed in Action. |
Help us honour Ernest Albury Lennan'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 Lennan was the second son of John and Henrietta Lennan of Tamworth, New South Wales. He was known as ‘Paddy’ Lennan to his friends.
Ernest enlisted during 1914, in Queensland, with the original 15th Battalion. He served at the landing at Anzac on 25 April 1915 and was twice wounded, once in May 1915 and then a gunshot wound to the elbow during the August offensive on Gallipoli.
When the unit moved to France, he was again wounded in the arm at Pozieres on 9 August 1916. On 1 February 1917, the 15th Battalion staged a raid, near Gueudecourt, when they attacked a section of the German front line known as Stormy Trench. In the face of relentless German shelling and bombing of the captured trenches, and a strong German counter attack at 4.30 a.m. the Battalion was forced to retire at 5 a.m. The Battalion lost over 20 men as prisoners of war, and Ernest Lennan was one of these, being reported as wounded in the action.
It is stated in Bean’s history, in an account of the raid, on page 30 of the 1917 volume, “Upon the falling back of the right, a party under Sergt. E. W. Simon continued to resist when a bomb burst in its midst. A private ‘Paddy’ Lennan (of Tamworth, NSW), struck down and lying wounded on the bottom of the trench, continued to urge the men: “Here are some bombs in this bag! Stand and fight like men! Never mind me.” Lennan was captured, and died ten days later.”
Lennan died whilst prisoner of war, Sachsenberg, Germany, 12 February 1917, aged 36 years, and his grave was sadly lost after the war.
He was recommended for a Military Medal but probably due to his death, this was downgraded to a Congratulatory Card.
“This soldier was noticed for his exceptional bravery in the attack on the night 1st/2nd February 1917 on Garman position north east of GUEUDECOURT, and showed striking courage and determination in the repulse of enemy counter attacks. He moved from one point to another, wherever enemy attack was heaviest and was always conspicuous at the most dangerously threatened points, and his coolness was an example to his comrades. He was severely wounded and is missing.”
Click images to start slideshow.