Ernest Henry Georgen ('Paddy' and also ' the peacemaker') RAVAILLION

RAVAILLION, Ernest Henry Georgen

    Service Number: 5439
    Enlisted: Not yet discovered
    Last Rank: Private
    Last Unit: 1st Infantry Battalion
    Born: Jerilderie, date not yet discovered
    Home Town: Gunning, Upper Lachlan Shire, New South Wales
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Fettler
    Died: 1971, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Not yet discovered
    Memorials:
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    World War 1 Service

    17 Nov 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5439, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Embarked in Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14th April, 1916. Disembarked in Egypt on 16th May, 1916. On May 20th he was transferred to the 53rd battalion and embarked with the 53rd on 21st June to Alexandria on HT Ivernia, arriving at Marseilles, France, 8 days later. The 53rd Battalion became embroiled in its first battle on the Western Front at Fromelles on 19th July. The battle was a disaster, incurring 625 casualties, includeing its Commander. Private Ravaillion was among the reinforcements taken on strength with the 53rd Battalion on 27th July, as it was reeling from the Fromelle disaster. Shellfire and sniper fire remained severe, with the village itself being set alight by the shelling. HQ was destroyed and the unit diary was damaged by shrapnel. Despite terrible losses, the battalion continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for another 2 months. The battalion spent the freezing winter of 1916-17 rotating in and out of trenches in the Somme Valley. Ravaillion had a break in routine, attending a bombing course in December 1916. On 17th January, 1917, he succumbed to trench foot and was admitted to the Anzac Casualty Receiving Station. He received treatment at the 1stSouth Midland Dressing Station and 2nd General Hospital at Havre. He was evacuated to England and admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Brighton. He recovered there for several months. Ravaillian was hospitalised again from January 17th-March 26th, 1918 due to illness and was admitted at the 1st Australian General Hospital. In April 1918, he proceeded to 5th Division Signals School at Codford for a course of instruction. On 3rd June, 1918 he returned to action in France. On 8th August, 1918, the final major Allied offensive began, with a focus on the area of Villers-Bretonneux/Peronne. The 53rd Battalion was assigned a support/reserve role, and the Unit diary reflects the battalion's extreme frustration and it's 'huury up and wait'role and the expressed desire to join the action. Private Ravallion may have fely particularly frustrated as he was again admitted to the 11th Canadian Field Ambulance on 16th August,1918. He was suffering from Prepatellis Bursititis/Inflammation Connective Tissue (ICT) of the right knee and was trabsferred to the 4th Canadian casualty Clearing Station and 10th General Hospital in Rouen, then to the War Hospital in Bath, England. After furlough he marched in the No. 4 Depot, Hurdcott, and returned to active duty on 3rd October, proceeding to Overseas Training Brigade Battalion. No doubt, Private ravaillion thought that he would be returning to france, but events were moving quickly and the horror of the war would end in a matter of weeks. With his Trench Fot becoming chronic, Private Ravaillion was hospitalised in the Miliaty Hospital at Fovant one month after Armistice. After 2 more episodes in hospital in March and April 1919, He continued to recuperate and prepare for repatriation. Whilst in hospital in England, Private Ravallion met his life partner, Mary Ann Margaret Helsby. They were married at St Philip's Parish Church in Dalston on 11th January, 1919. With his English 'war bride', Private Ravaillion embarked aboard HT Demosthenes and arived back in Australia on 19 September, 1919. Mary was expecting their first daughter Eileen, who was born at Gunning on 6th March, 1920. Private Ravaillion was discharged from 2 Military District on 15th December, 1919. He was awarded the British war Medal and the Victory Medal. His name is included on the Gunning District Soldiers Great War Memorial and the St. Edmunds Aglican Church, Gunning, Roll of Honour. He died in 1971 and former comrades from the 53rd Battalion visited him in his final illness.
    14 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 5439, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
    14 Apr 1916: Embarked Private, 5439, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney

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