Stringfellow, Ernest Clarence
995 Fitter Ernest Clarence Stringfellow - 5th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company AIF
Ernest Stringfellow was born in Parramatta NSW in 1884to James and Isabella Stringfellow. He was one of several siblings with, James (1881), Burnett (1884) and Stanley (1889).
In the early 1900's Burnett and his brother Ernest travelled to Western Australia and took up residence in Thompson Road North Fremantle. Burnett was a blacksmith and secured employment with the WA Government Railways. Ernest was also a Blacksmith and was working with the Westralian Iron works. He was living in Ainslie Road North Fremantle.
In 1914 Ernest married Ruby Horner in North Fremantle in 1914. The marriage made the social notes of the West Australian newspaper.
Ernest's enlistment coincided with the introduction of a Railway Corps into the Australian Imperial Force. Due to Ernest's and his brother's railway experience, both were assigned to the Australian Railway Corps Reinforcements.
On the 29th Janaury 1917 Burnett and Ernest boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, arriving at Devonport Harbour on the 27th March 1917.
After several weeks of training in England, Ernest was sent across to France in May 1917 where he was attached to the 59th Railway Operating Company. He served with the 59th Company and then the 5th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company in France and Belgium through 1917 and 18. They were kept very busy bringing supplies and troops up to the front lines and while not in the trenches, the railway men were often under long range artillery fire and bombing from the German planes as the Germans knew the importance of the Railway lines and terminus's.
Fortunately Ernest was never wounded in the war and aside from a few minor ailments got through unscathed.
On the 21st June 1919 Ernest boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and left for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.
Ernest returned home and resumed work with the Westralian Iron Works.
In 1921 a son James was born, through tragically he only lived for nine days, and a daughter Lorna was born in 1922.
Ernest died in Fremantle in 1968 aged 82.



