Renner, Ernest Melville

2712 Private Ernest Melville Renner - Australian Railway Corps

Ernest Melville Renner was born in Geraldton WA on the 16th August 1898 to Frederick August and Mary Agnes Renner. He had five siblings, Elizabeth (1890), Frederick (1892), Robert (1893) James (1895), Ernest (1898) and Jack (1903).

Ernie had his early years in Geraldton and was educated there. The family then moved to Bunbury when his father secured the role of Station Master. Frederick Renner then got the job of Perth Station Master and the family moved, firstly to Fremantle and then Cottesloe Beach (Mosman Park). Sadly Ernie's father died Frederick at home at Cottesloe Beach in 1913.

Ernie, like his brother James, worked for the Fire Brigade in Fremantle and continued with his cadets service in Fremantle. After the beginning of the Great War, Ernie began serving with the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks.

Through 1915/16 he had seen his three brothers, Fred, James and Robert enlist for service overseas. Though he was doing a required service on home duty, he was still keen to get overseas.

On the 4th January 1918 Ernie enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 6 feet & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 184lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Ernie was assigned to the Australian Railway Corps reinforcements and trained with this group for the next few weeks. On the 13th March 1918 he embarked from Fremantle abord the transport ship SS Ormonde.

After the long sea journey the ship, having gone via Alexandria and Marseilles, the ship arrived in Southampton England on the 15th May 1918. Ernie and his group then disembarked and were sent to the Australian Railway Corps depot at Longmoor. Five days after arriving Ernie was sent to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary hospital ill and was diagnosed with influenza. He recovered well and returned to the Railway Corps depot on the 12th June 1918.

Robert would have the next few months in England, only heading to France on the 28th September 1918. He was then sent to the Australian Base Depot camp at Rouelles and had two more weeks here. On the 12th October 1918 Ernie was taken on strength of the 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company.

Ernie served with this unit until April 1919. Though the war ended a month after his arrival at the unit, the railway units were kept busy transporting supplies and soldiers.

On the 1st May 1919 Ernie returned to England and was sent to No.3 AIF Camp at Codford. He would wait here to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.

On the 2nd July 1919 Ernie boarded the transport ship Karmala and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 10th August 1919.

After being disembarked Ernie was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check.

He was then discharged from the AIF on the 1st September 1919. He then returned home to Ocean Road Cottesloe Beach. He was working for the WA Government Railways during this time.

In 1923 in Fremantle Ernie married Cornelia Ingeborg Lundgren. They then moved to 38 Malcolm Street Fremantle. They were here for a few years then moved to 40 Barnett Street Fremantle. In the 1930's they then moved to 66 Duke Street East Fremantle.

They moved to East Perth for a few years in the 1940's and 50's before returning to Fremantle and residing at 11 East Street.

Ernest Melville Renner died in East Fremantle on the 14th November 1975 aged 77. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.