3966
CANK, Ernest
| Service Number: | 3950 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 July 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 13th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Grinshill, Shropshire, England, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Wallaroo, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Teacher |
| Died: | Natural causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 8 October 1968 |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia West, Rose Bed W11, Position 059 |
| Memorials: | Payneham RSL Honour Board, South Australian Education Department Roll of Honour, Wallaroo St Mary The Virgin Anglican Church Memorial Certificate, Wallaroo WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3950, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3950, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3950, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide | |
| 10 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 3950, 13th Machine Gun Company |
Off To The War
Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA : 1888 - 1954), Wednesday 14 July 1915, page 2
OFF TO THE WAR.
Amongst the latest of those who intend joining the colors is Mr E. Cank, Chief Assistant at the Wallaroo Public School. Mr Cank is well and popularly known, and prior to his departure was the recipient of presentations and farewells from numerous friends. At the public school on Thursday the teachers and scholars assembled to bid Mr Cank goodbye. Mr J. F. Herbert, M.P., in behalf of those assembled, presented the departing soldier with a wristlet watch. Reference was made to the excellent qualities Mr Cank possesses as a teacher, and the esteem he is held in by all. Mr C. Bray (head master) and Mr Jas. Malcolm supported the remarks of Mr Herbert, after, which Mr Cank suitably responded.
The same evening the Freemasons met and paid their compliments to Mr Cank. The W.M., Bro. S. E. Barnes, presided, and in behalf of the Lodge presented Bro. Cank with a masonic emblem and a tobacco pouch. Several brethren endorsed the remarks of the W. M. with reference to Bro. Cask's masonic virtues, and joined in good wishes.
On Friday night the members of the tennis club met at the Cornucopia Hotel at the invitation of the Proprietress (Mrs E. B. Bryden), to do honour to the departing soldier. Dr. W. H. Harbison presided. The Chairman, and Messrs S. H. Davey, D. K. Bews, S. E. Martin, J. Witham, and G. Pritchard, eulogised the sporting proclivi-ties of the guest, and predicted for him a successful record as a soldier. The present from the tennis club consisted of a silver mounted pipe. Later, Mr Hartwall, in behalf of the companion boarders at the hotel, presented Mr Cank with a safety razor, and with Messrs Dollard and Steinwedel referred to the estimable qualities of Mr Cank.
Mr Cank, when rising to respond, met with a flattering reception, and in his cus tomary modest manner thanked all for pre sents, good wishes and kindly references. He was going to the war feeling it his bounden duty to enlist and assist in preserving the honour and dignity of the Empire. Patriotic music was rendered by Messrs S. Martin and D. K. Bews. Mrs Bryden was thanked for her hospitality in providing the means for holding the farewell.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109195628
Submitted 28 September 2017 by Al Staunton
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"Lyrical Clergyman
MR. Ernest Cank, of Netherby, who retired from the headmastership of Payneham School last June, came here from England in 1912. When he and Mrs. Cank spent a year in England they stayed with his old friend the Rev. E. A. Godson at Swanage, Dorset, for a few days. Since their return they have sent him food parcels. He burst into verse when the last one arrived recently: —
ODE TO A CHRISTMAS CAKE
Just greet the news with a Tum-Tum-Tum.
Now beat the cymbal, bang the drum.
Hurrah! Hurrah! The cake HAS COME!!
The cake is here! In very good time.
That's the subject of my rhyme.
Our thanks to you will never end,
Ernest, my old and much loved friend.
We owe you a lot, you bet your life!
To you, and also your charming wife.
The cake is here, we've put it away
Not to be opened till Christmas Day.
We know what it is from the shape of the tin,
And neat tidy cover it's all packed in.
We know full well — we say it with zest —
It's certain to be a cake of the best.
Rich and alluring, all digestions to suit,
Delicious in flavor and wholesome to eat,
A cake so good, it couldn't be beat.
So thanks to you both, and Australia too,
For this lovely present, owed entirely to you." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 06 Jan 1949 (nla.gov.au)