No.6507 – Private Ernest Leslie Ferres – 10th 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 11th 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 5th Reinforcements to the 48th Battalion however on the 16th September 1916 he was sent to the 21st Reinforcements to the 10th 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 23rd October 1916. After the long journey to England they disembarked at Plymouth Harbour on the 28th December 1916.
After disembarking Ernest and his group were marched into the 3rd 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 19th April Ernest arrived at Folkestone and boarded the transport ship for the journey to France. Arriving at Etaples, he spent two days at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot and was then sent to join the 10th Battalion.
Ernest was taken on strength on the 10th Battalion on the 27th April 1917 in the vicinity of the Hindenburg Line. On May 3rd the 10th Battalion took part in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt and through the 10th had heavy casualties Ernest came through unscathed. After this battle was over the 10th 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 20th September 1917 that Ernie took part in his 2nd Battle. The 10th Battalion took part in this engagement along the Menin Road and successfully took their objectives. Ernie survived the battle on the 20th 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.
Ferres, Ernest Leslie. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 08/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/44840