Hocking, Ernest Charles
2489 Private Ernest Charles Hocking - 16th Battalion AIF
Ernest Charles Hocking was born in Clunes Victoria in 1883 to Benjamin and Catherine Hocking. He was one of ten siblings and sadly his mother died in 1899 when he was 16 years old. His father then died in 1908.
Ernie followed his brothers over to WA, his brother Ben being employed at Trades Hall Fremantle.
Ben went to the countryside for a time, being a miner and was living at Gnowangerup prior to the Great War.
Ernie enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 31st may 1915 in Katanning. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment, Ernie was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group at Blackboy Hil for a short time and on the 18th June 1915 entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Chilka.
The ship then set sail in Egypt, arriving there in July 1915. Ernie did not remain there long and he was soon shipped off to Gallipoli. Ernie joined the 16th Battalion at Gallipoli on the 2nd August 1915.
Six days after joining his unit, Ernie took part in the 16th Battalion advance through Turkish territory to try and capture Hill 971. The attack did not succeed in gaining the crucial heights but more ground had been captured. The casualties had been very heavy for the 16th Battalion but Ernie had come through safely.
On the 25th August 1915, Ernie reported sick and was found to be suffering with ear issues, and was diagnosed with deafness. He was sent to the hospital ship and was shipped to Malta. He had a few weeks in hospital in Malta and then on the 27th September 1915 was put aboard the hospital ship Karoola and was shipped to England. He was then admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital at Cardiff.
Ernie spent the next few months in hospital in England as they treated his hearing issues. He never returned to Gallipoli and the Australians withdrew from the Dardanelles in December 1915 and then returned to Egypt. Ernie eventually got back to Egypt in February 1916 and spent a month at the AIF Base Camp.
Ernie was officially taken back on strength of the 16th battalion on the 9th March 1916. He would have another week at the 4th Field Ambulance with hearing issues in March 1916, but otherwise spent the time training with his Battalion.
On the 1st June 1916 the 16th battalion left Egypt and proceeded across to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 8th June 1916. The men of the 16th Battalion were then disembarked and entrained north for the Armentieres sector of the Western Front.
They would have their first experience of the Western Front around Bois Grenier and Estaires but would only be in the line here for a few weeks before they were shifted to the Somme battlefield.
The 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions had been in action on the Somme since the 22nd July 1916 and Pozieres village had been captured and the line pushed forward towards Mouquet farm. The 16th Battalion, as part of the 4th Australian Division, came into the front line around August 6th 1916.
On the 10th August 1916 Ernie was blown up by a shell and was severely shell shocked. He was treated at the Field Ambulance and the Casualty Clearing Station before being sent to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. He was released from hospital on the 19th August and Ernie would now spend time in a Convalescent Camp.
On the 29th September 1916 Ernie was sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He would remain here for the next few months while he regained fitness and recovered from the shell shock.
Ernie was soon to rejoin the 16th Battalion but on the 29th December 1916 he came down with mumps and was instead then sent to a segregation camp. On the 12th January 1917 he was then transferred to the 18th General Hospital at Camiers.
On the 2nd February 1917 Ernie was returned to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. on the 22nd February 1917 he was then sent to the 2nd Australian General Hospital.
Ernie would remain in France for the next few months between the base camp and various hospitals as his health was not good. He was then diagnosed with neurasthenia. On the 27th May 1917 he was returned to England and sent to Edmonton Military Hospital. On the 18th June 1917 Ernie was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He had a week there and was then transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
Ernie would now remain in Weymouth while waiting to be assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 22nd July 1917 Ernie boarded the transport ship Nestor and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 10th September 1917.
Upon being disembarked Ernie was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South terrace Fremantle where he was given further medical treatment. He was discharged from the AIF on the 26th October 1917.
Ernie was then granted a military pension of 60/- per fortnight and returned to live with his brother at 47 Arundel Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 3 Arundel)
Ernie was able to pick up employment as a labourer after the war and soon moved with his brother to 31 Arundel Street. (later renumbered to 17 Arundel). By 1925 the family had moved to 32 Howard Street and by 1931 were living at 215 South Terrace South Fremantle. (later renumbered to 133 South Tce)
Ernie Hocking died at the Edward Millen respite house in Victoria Park on the 25th April 1932 aged 49. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A3 0203.