Ernest Preston (Joe) ECCLESTONE

ECCLESTONE, Ernest Preston

Service Number: 29598
Enlisted: 27 January 1916
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Boyanup, Western Australia, 15 January 1893
Home Town: Boyanup, Capel, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Orchardist, Labourer
Died: Boyanup, Western Australia, 12 December 1969, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Boyanup Cemetery
Memorials: Boyanup War Memorial, Donnybrook Preston Road Board
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World War 1 Service

27 Jan 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 29598, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF
3 Oct 1916: Embarked Gunner, 29598, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne
3 Oct 1916: Involvement Gunner, 29598, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
1 Oct 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, France
10 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Driver, 29598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, France - remained on duty (slight)
26 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Driver, 29598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, France - Gassed
6 Jun 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 29598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, per Ormiston
31 Aug 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 29598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Joe was the ninth of ten children of William James Ecclestone (b1854 in Fremantle, WA) and Susan Stinton (b1853 in Fremantle, WA). William (a Farmer) and Susan married in 1877 in Picton WA and settled in Boyanup where they raised their family - three sons served in WWI (John, Robert and Ernest) and six Grandsons and a Granddaughter served in WWII.

Joe was an Orchardist in Boyanup when he enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 (Gunner; Service No:29598) - he had served two years with 25th Light Horse Bunbury. Joe served with 118 Howitzer Brigade and 120 Howitzer Battery before transferring to 4th Field Artillery Brigade as a Driver in October 1917. He was WiA on two occasions in France in October 1917 - slightly on the first occasion and was Gassed on the second occasion. Joe was Discharged in August 1919.

Returning to Boyanup, Joe was an Orchardist in 1920 when he married Ethel May Smith (b1894 in Boyanup WA). The couple settled in Boyanup where Joe was an Orchardist. Eldest son Ernest William served in the Army in WWII (Service No:W70460), Joe died in 1969 and Ethel in 1986.

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