Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Ernest James Simcoe served in WW1 under the name of Ernest Simcoe, my Army Number was 3748. I was born on the 7th August 1899 (Registration Number 32964). My enlistment papers show that I was born near the town of Stewart Town (Stuart Town), in the county of Wellington NSW. I applied to enlist on the 24th June 1917 and was enlisted on the 23rd July 1917 aged 17 years 11 months (Enlistments papers say 18 years 1 month). My parents were Robert Thomas and Mary J. Simcoe. My occupation was labourer. We were living in Maitland Street Narrabri at the time. On enlistment I was 6 feet tall, weighed 10 stone 5 pounds, my eyes were brown, I had a fair complexion and my hair was red. My religion was C of E and I had a distinctive scar on the right buttock. My unit that I joined was the 10th Reinforcements (later to join the 53rd Battalion) and I was a Private Soldier.
We embarked on the 2nd August 1917 on the HMAT A28 "Miltiades" from Sydney and disembarked at Glasgow on the 2nd October 1917. I was located then at Hurdcott on the 3rd October. On the 4th November 1917 I misbehaved and was charged at Hurdcott with being absent from my post and insolence and was awarded 28 days Field Punishment. At Codford, England on the 17th May 1918 I was found guilty of using insubordinate language and threatening language and served 21 days in detention. On the 17th June 1918 I was shipped to France via Codford and Folkstone, England, arriving at the seaport of Le Havre, France on the 19th June 1918 and was taken on strength with the 10th Reinforcements into the 53rd Battalion. On the 31st August I was injured accidentally from bomb fragments or a gun shot wound to the left leg at Boocombe Hants, and spent some time in the hospital at Rouen,. I was then evacuated to England on the 4th September 1918 to a hospital at Cosham across the Channel from La Havre. I returned to Australia on the 8th January 1919 on the Transport Ship HT "Orsova". On the 13th April 1919 I was discharge from the Australian Imperial Force in consequence of medical unfitness. Medals that were issued from WW1 are: 1914/18 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. The 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal 1914-20, The Victory Medal.
In «b»WW2«/b» on the 12th April 1940 I again enlisted in the Army, my army number was NX12023. At this time I was living at Maryvale NSW with my wife Ivy. My discharge on the 29th August 1940 stated that I was a sapper with the Railway Unit 2 AIF. I again enlisted on the 17th October 1941, army number N281531 and was living at Yeoval NSW. My discharge on the 17th October 1941 stated that I was a private with the 204 Australian Camp Hospital. (have rechecked and the only document available has the dates as above, so He was probably enlisted and discharged medically unfit on the same day). On the 18th April 1944 I qualified as and Instructor of the Railway Ambulance Corps and was appointed into the Corps being my third time of enlisting into the Army. My Army number was N472424 and on my discharge on the 26th November 1945 stated I was a private with 25 Battalion Volunteers Defence Corps. I would be entitled to the following medals for WW2. The War Medal 1939-45 The Australia Service Medal 1939-45