Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ernest Bernard Lindholm Anderson was born on the 4th of July 1886 in Malmo, Sweden. His father’s name was Anders Hans Lindholm.

When he was 19 he moved to South Australia where he worked as a stevedore (dock worker). On the 11th of March 1913 in the city of Port Adelaide, Ernest became naturalised.

At the age of 28 he married 21 year old Mary Elizabeth Ulseth on the 18th of February 1914 in the Anglican church St Bede’s, Semaphore. (Family search)

On the 10th of June 1915 Ernest enlisted into the Australian Forces at the Keswick barracks in Adelaide. He was 29 at the time.His enlistment records state his height as 5ft 6 inches and weighing 152 pounds, his complexion was noted as fresh, eyes coloured blue and fair hair. He had tattoos on both fore arms. His religious denomination was Church of England.

As part of the 10th Battalion unit on the 21st of September 1915 he left Adelaide on the HMAT Star of England A15 and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on the 4th of November 1915. (Australian War memorial)

The battalion's first major battle was in France at Pozieres. They arrived on the 25th of April 1915 at approximately 4:30 am. The 10th Battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position, and served there until December.

The 10th Battalion returned to Egypt in March 1916 and sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the battalion took part in an ugly trench warfare.

Another major battle the battalion participated in is the great allied offensive of 1918, fighting near Amiens on 8 August 1918. This was continued by British and empire troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front, German General Erich Ludendorff described it as "the black day of the German Army in this war". (Australian War memorial 10th infantry battalion)

Whilst in Mudros, Ernest was transferred to a hospital in Cairo with pneumonia on the 14th of January 1916. His condition was rated as dangerously ill. After a period of recovery and convalescence he was discharged to an overseas base on the 17th of April 1916.

Ernest was then wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left leg in France 21st of August 1916. Ernest was in the front line at the time expanding trenches when they were showered with shells as they were exposed. He was transferred to England on the 25th of August. After his recovery he was transferred overseas to France on the 17th of December and re-joined the battalion on Christmas day 1916.

After war service in Egypt Gallipoli and the Western Front he returned home on the 31st of May 1919 and he was discharged on the 25th of July 1919.

During the war Ernest was promoted to Lance Corporal and awarded 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Ernest lived to the age of 76 passing away on the 13th of December 1961, and was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery, Adelaide. He was survived by his wife Mary and 6 children. (Billion graves).