Loney, Ernest Stirling
237 Corporal Ernest Stirling Loney - 36th Heavy Artillery Group
Ernest Stirling Loney was born in Victoria Australia in 1895 to Peter and Isabella Loney. He had an older brother Peter, born in 1893, and a younger brother Allan, born in 1896.
Shortly after their birth the family moved to Western Australia in 1902 and the boys completed their education in the Fremantle/Cottesloe region. The Loney's lived in both areas.
All three boys were good athletes but it was Ernest who seems to have been the champion swimmer in the family.
Ernest joined the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks in 1912. He also lived in the accommodation at the Barracks.
Ernie took part in many swimming competitions in the Swan River from 1913 to 1915 either from Applecross to Barracks Street Perth, from Fremantle to Perth or from Perth to Guildford.
The newspapers reported on his swimming feats;
He was also an active member of the Fremantle Rowing Club. In one event in 1914 Ernie's rowing crew beat Daniel Aaron's crew (Later Captain 16th Bn), then beat his brothers crew in the Semi finals and in the final won that event. The cup being presented by Mr. Dixon Hearder (later a Major in the 11th Battalion).
With the advent of the Great War, Ernie and the other permanent Gunners at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks were put on a full war footing, manning the guns around Fremantle Harbour including at Fort Forrest and Arthurs Head.
On the 1st June 1915 Many of the Gunners including Ernest were able to enlist for service overseas as a new unit was being formed called the 36th Heavy Artillery Group. This would be a Heavy Artillery Group that was going to serve on the Western Front in France and Belgium.
The 6 foot 1 inch 21 year old Ernie was accepted as fit for service. With the other Gunners that were enlisted (which included his brother Allan Reg No.238) they were sent across to Victoria to complete their training.
Ernie wrote of leaving Fremantle;
The Brigade was formed about June 1 1915 from the men of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery going into camp in the Domain in Melbourne, from all different states, 64 being from Western Australia, my young brother Alan and I being among them. I will never forget the send off we got from Fremantle when leaving Fremantle for the Eastern States. All the boys were well known in WA and I saw more good-bye ribbons (I forget the right name) from the boat to the quay than I ever saw at Fremantle before. Chitter Brown had eight, and I think I came next with six. The average would have been four all round. As the Indarra moved out we started cheering ourselves hoarse in response to those of our friends. When we got in mid-stream all the sailors on the convoying vessels were lined up on deck and they gave us three great cheers, and then their band struck up. The final salute came from their guns just as we were getting near the mouth of the harbour. It seemed quite strange to be leaving the old-West. Half-way to Rottnest there was hardly a R.A.A. boy who could speak owing to hoarseness-we had yelled ourselves to a standstill...We left Fremantle on June 5 and landed in Melbourne On the 11th, after a splendid trip. We put in "our time up till the day of our departure for England, July 17, in getting fitted out with our kit (active service), and having a good look around Melbourne and suburbs. After being formed into two batteries we had a bit of drill to get ready for our march through Melbourne, which came off on the 16th. It was a great march, and a fairly long one. Lots of the people could not make out what the RAA's on our shoulders, neck, and cap stood, for, and I heard many wild guesses.. We got a very good hearing and a good march - into the bargain, and everybody was satisfied and -knew that the day of departure was not far off. We left at 12 o'clock, midday, July 17. We marched to the pier, with our one and only band heading us, early in the morning. After leaving Melbourne we headed straight for Fremantle, where we arrived on the 22nd, after a very rough trip across the Bight, Only the West boy got leave, and as that, was only four or five hours it soon slipped by, and early on the morning of the 23rd we were on our way to Aden, which we sighted at 4 p.m. .on August 6, after 14 days without seeing land, and if you have ever seen Aden you know what an apology for land it is. Anyhow, we were glad to see something, and also a bit of strange life.
Prior to leaving England Ernest and his group had their photo taken (below)
After reaching Boulogne it wasn't long before the Australians of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group reached the front. Ernest takes up his story;
Ernie served with his unit through 1916 and in January 1917 he was evacuated to hospital suffering from rheumatism of the feet. He was evacuated back to England and spent much of 1917 in England, firstly recuperating his health and then helping training new recruits in the camps. He wrote another letter home during 1917.
Ernie rejoined the 55th Battery of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group on the 16th November 1917. The Siege Brigade were then in the midst of the Battle of Cambrai.
In March 1918 Ernie was detached from his unit to attend a course regarding the use of pigeons in signalling but apart from that course Ernie remained with his unit for all the fighting in 1918.
In October the Siege Brigade boys were still in action but were then pulled from the line for a rest period.
On the 3rd November 1918 Ernie was hospitalised with influenza. He was taken to the 42nd Field Ambulance and then to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station. From there he was admitted to No.83 General Hospital at Rouen France. He was still there when the Armistice was announced.
Fortunately he soon recovered and was back with his unit by the 2nd December 1918. A few days later he was granted a fortnights leave to England.
Ernie returned to his unit on the 20th December 1918 and he remained with his unit for the next few months, apart from another period of leave which he took in Paris. He was promoted to Corporal during this time.
On the 10th March 1919 Ernie returned to England to await for a berth on a transport ship back home. However once he arrived in England Ernie requested a period of Non Military Employment. This Non Military Employment was offered to soldiers so they would have something useful to do while waiting for shipping which could take months.
Ernie requested to be trained in Wool Classing and it appears he went up to Leeds for this. This took place between July and October 1919.
Ernie eventually embarked for Australia on the 30th October 1919 and arrived in Fremantle on the 6th December 1919.
Ernie Loney was discharged from the AIF on the 6th February 1920.
In 1926 in Perth Ernie married Gertrude Marion Elson.
Ernest Stirling Loney died on the 26th June 1974.



