Taylor, Ernest Alfred

336 Gunner Ernest Alfred Taylor - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Ernest Alfred Taylor was born in Hobart Tasmania on the 23rd November 1893 to Alfred and Agnes Taylor, being one of six children in the family. His father was a telegraph operator in Hobart.

Ernie was educated in Tasmania and after leaving school he took up work as a linesman. He later joined the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery of the Permanent Australian Forces and was posted to the Fremantle Artillery Barracks.

In 1912 in Fremantle he married Ada Bradford. As Ernest was stationed at the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery Barracks in Fremantle he spent time between there and the Bradford family home at 119 Hubble Street East Fremantle (now 59 Hubble)

On the 1st June 1915 Ernest and the other Gunners at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks were able to enlist for service overseas. His physical attributes were recorded as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 155lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark.

The Gunners at Fremantle were then sent to Victoria to join up with the other permanent artillerymen from around Australia and to complete their training before embarking.

On the 17th July 1915 Ernest and the Gunners of the newly formed 36th Heavy Artillery Group left port Melbourne aboard the transport ship Orsova and sailed for England. After arriving in England in September 1915, the men were disembarked and sent to the Artillery training Depot. They were initially stationed at Lydd, then Taunton in Somerset where they spent the Christmas of 1915.

The men were then organised into the 54th and 55th Batteries of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group. Ernest was allotted to the 55th Battery. 

On February 27th 1916 Ernest, as part of the 54^th Battery, arrived at Boulogne France. They spent three days here and on March 7^th left with their guns and travelled to Mont St Eloy near Arras where they went into billets. On March 16^th 1916 the men of the 55^th Battery of the Siege Brigade suffered their first casualties when the Germans shelled their billets at Mont St Eloy. Three of the Gunners were killed and fourteen were wounded. Fortunately Ernie came through this shelling safely.

He continued to served up to the 27th May 1916 when he fell ill. He had a few days rest and recovery at the Field Ambulance and was then good to return to his unit. He served with his unit for much of 1916 and 1917 including through the Battle of the Somme and the Third Battle of Ypres.

Ernest got into trouble in September 1917 near Ypres when he absented himself from duty for three hours. When he returned he was charged with going absent without leave and also for drunkenness. He was given seven days of Field Punishment No.1 as a result.

On the 3rd November 1917 Ernest was granted a fortnight's leave to England, returning on the 24th November 1917. When he returned he found his unit involved in the Battle of Cambrai. It was a hectic few weeks in November and December 1917 with the initial successful British attack and the German counter attack. The 36th HAG's guns were heavily involved.

In mid December Ernest was hospitalised but was back with his unit after a week. Through December 1917 to March 1918 the unit was spread from Northern France through to southern Belgium.

On the 22nd March 1918 Ernest was granted a weeks leave in Paris, returning on the 31st March 1918. Not long after his return the Germans launched a large attack through Belgium and the 36th's guns had to be withdrawn before the German onslaught was brought to a halt.

Ernest remained with his unit until the 21st October 1918. He then took two days unauthorised leave and upon his return was charged for being AWOL for 37 hours. As a punishment he was given 14 days of Field Punishment No.2 and was fined 16 days pay.

A few weeks later the Armistice was announced and Alfred served with his unit through to February 1919. He then returned to England.

On the 19th April 1919 Ernest boarded the transport ship Sardinia and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 28th May 1919.

Ernest was discharged from the AIF on the 27th July 1919 but then resumed his service with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

After leaving the Royal Garrison Artillery in the early 1920's, Ernest worked as a Linesman with WA Government Railways, with the family living at 60 Stirling Street Fremantle, later moving to 116 & 120 Forrest Street East Fremantle.

Ernest Taylor died in East Fremantle on the 27th July 1945 aged 51. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican MON A7 0151.