Ferres, Ernest Leslie

No.6507 – Private Ernest Leslie Ferres – 10^th Battalion AIF

Ernest Leslie Ferres was born in Fremantle in 1880 to Thomas and Mary Ferres. The family later moved to South Australia where they took up residence in North Adelaide. Ernest later found work as a bottler and labourer. On the 11^th July 1916 he went to the Adelaide recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 3 ¼ inches tall; weight of 132 lbs; chest measurement of 32-37 inches; medium complexion; brown eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.

After initially being allotted to No.2 Depot Battalion Ernest was transferred to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 48^th Battalion however on the 16^th September 1916 he was sent to the 21^st Reinforcements to the 10^th Battalion. He trained with this group in SA for another month and then embarked aboard the H.M.A.T. “Port Melbourne” from Adelaide on the 23^rd October 1916. After the long journey to England they disembarked at Plymouth Harbour on the 28^th December 1916.

After disembarking Ernest and his group were marched into the 3^rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He trained here through to April 1917, during which time he was also granted leave to see the sights of England. On the 19^th April           Ernest arrived at Folkestone and boarded the transport ship for the journey to France. Arriving at Etaples, he spent two days at the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot and was then sent to join the 10^th Battalion.

Ernest was taken on strength on the 10^th Battalion on the 27^th April 1917 in the vicinity of the Hindenburg Line. On May 3^rd the 10^th Battalion took part in the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt and through the 10^th had heavy casualties Ernest came through unscathed. After this battle was over the 10^th Battalion were pulled out of the line for a much deserved rest and they would not enter the front line again until September 1917. It was during the Third Battle of Ypres on the 20^th September 1917 that Ernie took part in his 2^nd Battle. The 10^th Battalion took part in this engagement along the Menin Road and successfully took their objectives. Ernie survived the battle on the 20^th but was killed the following day. He was initially posted as ‘Missing in Action’ but this was later changed to Killed in Action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.