Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ernest Alfred Winton was born in March 1889, in Queensland but moved to South Australia at some stage, living in Quorn prior to the war where he worked as a Ganger. His sister Ethel Annie Winton who resided in Boulia QLD was listed as his next of kin .

Ernest Alfred Winton was 5 foot and 7 inches tall and 26 years old and 4 months when he enlisted. His chest measurements were 35.37 and a half inches and he weighed approximately 159 pounds or 71.12 kilograms. He had a fair complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. He scored a 6/9 score for his right eye and a 6/6 for his left eye. The religion he practiced was Presbyterianism.

He enlisted in the AIF on the 21st of July 1915. He was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Battalion. The 32nd Infantry Battalion was split in to 2 sections, Company A and B were made of South Australian Recruits and C and D which consisted of recruits in Queensland. Their training in SA was focused on fitness and were often without equipment due to shortages.

They converged in South Australia and sailed on HMAT GEELONG bound for Egypt embarking 1th November 1915. The HMAT GEELONG Collided with SS Bonvilston shortly after disembarking the soldiers in Egypt. They arrived during the aftermath of Gallipoli Campaign. Winton's battalion was stationed at a base in Egypt.

On 24th January 1916 Ernest was transferred to the Camel Corps and continued to serve in the Middle East.

Camel Corps. Throughout his history in the Camel corps he experienced a series of Promotion and Demotions. He also participated in the Transport Corps and was later transferred to the 14th Light horse regiment due to the Imperial Camel Corps disbanding.

His first battle was most likely the Battle of Rafa. The battle of Rafa was fought on the 9th of January 1917. The battle of Rafa started pre-dawn on the 9th of January 1917. This victory lead to a significant advantage for the Allies which allowed them to capture Rafa. There were 487 casualties and roughly 71 killed.

During the Capture of Beersheba, 31 people from the Light horse units lost their lives, with 36 wounded. This charge also resulted in the demise of 70 horses. The Battle of Beersheba was fought in Sinai Palestine on the 31st of October 1917 at dawn and ended at approximately 5:30 in the evening. This charge included the 4th Light horse Brigade, ANZAC Mounted Division and the Australia Mounted Division which included the Imperial Camel Corps. This victory allowed the Allies to expand southern attacks and capture Jerusalem near the end of 1917.

The Battle of Jerusalem started on 17th of November 1917 to 30th of December 1917. The battle of Jerusalem was a crucial battle In order to establish a well positions fort. Roughly 70 soldiers were killed and 330 wounded. The XX corps of Britain, XXI corps of Britain and the Desert Mounted corps were the primary offence force of the Battle of Jerusalem. The successful capture allowed the Allies to assist in battles in the middle east.

His last battle before he was discharged and returned to Australia was the Battle of Damascus. The battle of Damascus was one of the last every charges using a calvary unit. This battle resulted in the demise of roughly 1600 Australian soldiers. Many units which included Prince Feisal's Sherifial Army, Desert Mounted Corps, Australian Mounted Division (which included the 14th light horse regiment), 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions.

Ernest was hospitalised a couple of times during his service. He was treated for boils (a painful bump filled with pus which forms under your skin due to bacteria infecting and inflaming one or more hair follicles) and hemorrhoids (swollen veins in a person's lower rectum). He got Boils on 23rd of March 1918 while in the Imperial Camel Corps and was hospitalized for approximately 20 days before returning to the battlefield. He later also got hemorrhoids. Alfred was hospitalized for 39 days before returning to his unit.

After the war Alfred returned to Australia disembarking 27th August 1919, and he was discharged on 20th of October 1919.

Unfortunately he passed away due to a railway accident in South Australia on  June 5th 1923. He was ran over by a Section car and was sent to the hospital where the doctors diagnosed that he had five broken ribs and internal injuries. Operations in attempt to save his life were unsuccessful which ultimately resulted in his passing. 

Bibliography

https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/resources/1916/imperial-camel-corps#:~:text=In%201917%20the%20brigade%20took,transferred%20to%20the%20light%20horse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32nd_Battalion_(Australia)#:~:text=It%20was%20first%20raised%20in,before%20being%20disbanded%20in%201919.

https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au/memorials/14th-australian-light-horse-regiment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jerusalem#:~:text=The%20Battle%20of%20Jerusalem%20occurred,Palestine%20Offensive%20during%20the%20Sinai

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine

https://summerlandcamels.com.au/blogs/news/imperial-camel-corps-battle-of-rafa#:~:text=The%20Battle%20of%20Rafa%2C%20fought,of%20the%20Imperial%20Camel%20Corps.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/advanced/category/newspapers?keyword=%22Ernest%20Alfred%20Winton%22&date.from=1889-03-01

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8855624

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=329675