WITHERS, Ernest John Churchman
| Service Number: | 253 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1915, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Drake, New South Wales, 12 July 1898 |
| Home Town: | South Grafton, Clarence Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Grafton High School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 4 May 1918, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Adelaide Cemetery Villers-Bretonneux Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 253, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 253, 4th Machine Gun Company, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 253, 4th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Seang Bee, Fremantle | |
| 4 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 253, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, Merris (France), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 253 awm_unit: 4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-05-04 |
Letter to Mrs Mary Withers - Death of her son
Mrs. A. Withers, late of South Grafton, has received the following letter from Lieut. Arthur A. FowIess, in connection with her son Ernest's death: — "Dear Mrs. Withers,— It is my very painful duty as section officer to write and inform you of the death of your son, No. 253, Pte. E. J. C. Withers, of No. 4 Australian Machine Gun Co. The sad event took place on the morning of the 4th May. A shell exploded in the trench where he and one of my other boys were standing talking. He was unfortunately killed immediately, and we buried him in a soldier's grave and have since erected a cross to mark the spot of his grave. He was known to the boys as ‘Jerry' and was very popular with all who knew him. He was keen in his work and always proved himself a good and willing boy. It is indeed regrettable that a promising life should have been terminated so tragically, yet there is consolation in the fact that he gave up his life for the sake of his country — a truly noble death. On behalf of myself and boys of the section who were so intimately acquainted with him, I extend my deepest sympathy and condolence, and remain, yours very sincerely, Arthur A. Fowless, Lieutenant.” – The Daily Examiner, Grafton, issue dated Monday July 15, 1918.
Submitted 16 December 2016 by John Johnston
Biography contributed by John Johnston
Ernest John Churchman WITHERS is remembered on the headstone of his mother's grave in South Grafton Cemetery.
"...253 Private Ernest John Churchman Withers, 4th Machine Gun Company, an 18 year old clerk from South Grafton, NSW when he enlisted on 30 August 1915. He embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements of the 1st Pioneer Battalion from Sydney on 14 April 1916 aboard HMAT Ceramic and with the service number of 1967. He then transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Company and was given the new service number of 253 and embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Fremantle on 18 July 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Bee. While serving with the 4th Machine Gun Company in France he was killed in action on 4 May 1918 and is buried in the Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery, France..." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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