Alford, Ernest Vincent

1293 Gunner Ernest Vincent Alford - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Ernest Victor Alford was born in Sydney New South Wales in 1894 to John and Josephine Alford. He was one of twelve children born into the Alford family.

He came to Western Australia with his family while he was still young circa 1902 and took up residence in Fremantle. Sadly his father John died in Fremantle in 1905.

Ernest completed his schooling in Fremantle and then took up the trade of Printing.

Ernest had began his service as a cadet and then continued on to serve as a member of the 11th Garrison Artillery. In 1915 many of the permanent Gunners based in Fremantle were able to enlist for service overseas so they were replaced by reservists gunners such as Alfred. He was based in Fremantle around the Artillery Barracks and Fort Forrest.

In 1916 his mother Josephine died in Fremantle.

In 1917 in Fremantle Ernie married Ruby Hilda Rachel Jones and they were living at 187 (97) King Street East Fremantle.

On the 20th December 1917 Ernest was able to enlist into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical examiner passed him as fit and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches;

Weight - 130lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-35 inches;

Complexion - Ruddy;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Ernie was assigned to the Siege Brigade Artillery Reinforcements and sent to Victoria and New South Wales to continue his training.

On the 28th February 1918 Ernie boarded the transport ship Nestor and set sail from Port Melbourne. He had been promoted to Bombardier prior to departure.

After the long sea voyage the ship arrived at Liverpool England on the 20th April 1918. Ernie and his group were then sent to the Australian Heavy Artillery Training Depot Camp. On the 5th July 1918 he was transferred to the Heavy Artillery school at Heytesbury where he also undertook a course in Signals. This time ay Heytesbury lasted till October 1918 and Ernie was then returned to the Base Depot Camp.

The Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 and Ernie went to France on the 21st November 1918. He was then taken on strength of the 1st Australian Siege Battery. Ernie served with this unit till the 5th April 1919 when he transferred to the 1st Australian Motor Transport Company. He served with this unit in France for several weeks but then on the 26th May 1919 he returned to England.

On the 12th July 1919 Ernie returned to Australia on the transport ship City of Exeter. He arrived back in Fremantle on the 16th August 1919 and was then discharged from the AIF on the 9th September 1919.

After his return home, a daughter Joyce was born in 1920 followed by Ruth in 1923.

Ernest continued with his pre war career of being a Printer and he and his family were living in Petra Street East Fremantle, later moving to 4 Tamar Street.

Ernest Vincent Alford died on the 13th March 1987 aged 92. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot Seventh Day Adventist R 0111.