Mainstone, Ernest Benjamin
989 Private Ernest Benjamin Mainstone - 32nd Battalion & W18605 Western Command HQ
Ernest Benjamin Mainstone was born on the 2nd March 1898 in Bunbury WA to Benjamin Thomas and Emily Mainstone. He was one of four children born in to the family in Bunbury with Amy (1900), Doris (1903) and Roy (1908).
Ernie lived his early years in Bunbury where his father ran the Federal Hotel, however shortly after Roy's birth in 1908 the family moved to South Fremantle. Ernie father Ben, was now running the Newmarket Hotel in South Fremantle, becoming the hotel's first licensee.
The Newmarket hotel was a popular hotel for the South Fremantle and Hamilton Hill residents. According to the City of Fremantle heritage information;
Newmarket Hotel is a well-resolved and impressive example of a two-storey Federation Filigree style building with random rubble limestone walls, tuckpointed brick quoining, and a two-storey timber verandah that extends across both street elevations and overhangs the footpath...Newmarket Hotel was constructed to service the expansion of industry and agriculture south of Fremantle from the late nineteenth century...Newmarket Hotel is particularly associated with the horse racing industry in the area south of Fremantle, which thrived from the early 1900s to the 1970s. The hotel was named after the centre for horse racing near London.
Benjamin Mainstone ran the Newmarket Hotel till 1925.
However prior to the Great War, twelve year old Ernie enjoyed the area around the Newmarket Hotel when they first moved there, given that it was a mix of residences and market gardens near the southern border of Fremantle. He completed his education in Fremantle and after leaving school found work in the local area.
In March 1915 the Fremantle Herald reported that Ernie's 18th Birthday was celebrated at the Newmarket Hotel along with that of his younger sister Amy, whose birthdays were only a few days different. Ernie may have been waiting to turn 18 to enlist into the AIF.
Benjamin Mainstone signed the consent form which Ernie took with him to the Recruitment Office at Blackboy Hill Camp which is where he enlisted. Ernie was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording Ernie's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 & 3/4 inches;
Weight - 137lbs;
Chest Measurement - (left blank);
Complexion - Medium;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Ernie spent a month at the Blackboy Hill Training Depot where he learnt the basics of soldiering. On the 16th August 1915 he was assigned to "C' Company of the 32nd Battalion AIF.
The 32nd Battalion was a joint Western Australian and South Australian unit, and the West Aussies of "C" and "D" Companies left Fremantle and went to Adelaide to join up with the South Australian Companies.
After more training in South Australia, the 32nd embarked from Port Adelaide aboard the transport ship Geelong and set sail for Egypt in December 1915.
The 32nd Battalion spent six months in the Egyptian desert and they spent their time manning the Suez Canal defence line as well as further training. In June the 32nd Battalion left Egypt and headed for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 23rd June 1916.
The 32nd Battalion did not have much time on the Western Front before they faced a severe trial. On the 19th July 1916 the 32nd Battalion were involved in the ill-fated attack at Fromelles. The 32nd Battalion managed to capture their objectives in the assault but with a flank in the air and the Germans pouring in, the survivors had to withdraw through a heavy German fire.
Ernie was wounded in the feet during the Fromelles attack. He later penned;
July 19/20th 1916: Wounded at 6pm. Lay in Dugout all night…Carried out at 9.a.m. Spent the night in a hospital train on the way to Boulogne
Ernie was then shipped across to England where he would spend the next few months in hospital as the wounds to his feet were very severe. At Christmas 1916 Ernie wrote;
December 25th 1916: Received presents in stocking. Razor from Commandant; Looking Glass from Quartermaster; Cigarette case from Miss West; fruit, cigarettes, pipe and chocolate. Went into Bromley in morning. Had a bottle of ale each with our dinner. Afterwards had some music in the billiard room and after tea played games up till 9pm. Spent a very enjoyable day. In early morning there was snow on the ground 6 inches deep but towards the afternoon it melted.
On the 24th March 1917 Ernie was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. On the 18th April 1917 Ernie was released from hospital and sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Though his wounds had healed Ernie was not yet at the point of full fitness to return to the 32nd Battalion.
In June 1917 he was detached for duty to Cobham Hall Hospital but was soon returned to No.2 Command Depot. On the 1st January 1918 he was sent to AIF Details Camp at Tidworth and would spend the rest of 1918 working at the AIF Camps at Tidworth, No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth, No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott and the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverill.
In 1918 Ernie met up with three other wounded friends from Fremantle to have a photograph taken.
Walter Flindell (standing back left) in photo below is positioned as to the amputated right leg and right arm not being seen. Standing next to him is Ernie, also of the 32nd Battalion and in the front row is Vernon Bateman and Albert Bateman.
On the 28th February 1919 Ernie boarded the transport ship Anchises in Devonport Harbour and set sail for Australia.
He disembarked in Albany on the 7th April 1919. From there he returned home to South Fremantle.
He resumed his pre war career as a Commercial Traveller for a time and then started employment as a taxi driver.
In 1921 his sister Amy married Francis Henry Blinco, a returned soldier, and Ernie was part of the wedding party, being Francis's best man. The marriage ceremony happened at St John's Church Fremantle with the reception at Caledonian Hall. Photo of Wedding party from the Sunday Times below.
In December 1923, Ernie's sister Doris married Edgar Luff, a returned Fremantle soldier from the 10th Light Horse Regiment. Once again Ernie performed the duties of best man (For wedding photo see bio of Edgar Luff).
In 1924 Ernie became engaged to Maude Sylvada Darnell and they would get married in 1925. Their first son Benjamin would be born in 1927. Unfortunately the following year, on June 30th 1928, Ernie's father Ben would die in Perth Hospital after a short illness aged 66.
In 1929, a daughter June Honora Mainstone to Maude and Ernie, and in 1930 a son Robert Ian Mainstone was born. The family was now living in South Perth.
Pre WW2 Ernie was kept busy with raising his young family, his taxi driving and his involvement with returned soldiers organisations such as the 32nd Battalion Association.
In World War Two, Ernie again offered his services to the Australian Army. On the 18th August 1941, the 43 year old Ernie went to the Perth Recruitment Office and was accepted as fit for service. He was given the regimental number W18605 and was assigned to Western Command Headquarters. He served at Perth. Karrakatta and also the Prisoner of War centre at Marrinup. He was discharged in 1946 after fives years of service.
His younger brother Roy served overseas with the 2nd AIF, having served in the Middle East, Greece, Crete and New Guinea with the 2/7th Field Ambulance. He survived the war.
Ernie Mainstone died in Como on the 18th August 1966 aged 68 years old. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery and is memorialised at Niche Wall S 0220.
Maude Mainstone, outlived her husband by 26 years, dying on the 17th April 1992 aged 92.