Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Gnr Ernest John GRIBBLE 1386/16135,
13th Field Artillery Brigade
 
When you walk through the gate of Lijssenthoek Cemetery in Belgium it is worth remembering the words of military historian John Laffin when he spoke of this cemetery as being the ‘quintessence of collective suffering.’ For here lay the graves of over 1100 Australian soldiers, along with those of approximately 9000 other Allied servicemen, all who died of wounds or disease. Among these is Ballarat boy, Ernie Gribble.

After the marriage of William James Gribble and Alice Eliza Stoney in 1891, few could have predicted the fine family of sons that they would produce. From Frederick William, their first-born in 1892, to the eighth son Dudley Vernon in 1908, there was never the sign of a daughter. In the midst of this very masculine household, the twins Arthur James and Ernest John were born in January 1896.

The family made their home at 1304 Mair Street in Ballarat West within easy walking distance of Lake Wendouree and all its inherent boyhood distractions of bulrushes and willow trees, swimming and boating. The Gribble boys were schooled at the Pleasant Street State School that overlooked the lake. They also attended the Pleasant Street Wesleyan Methodist Church, where their grandfather, John Gribble, had been a prominent member of the congregation.

Indeed, John Gribble was a particularly interesting character in his own right. Born at Illogan, Cornwall, in 1836, he came to Australia shortly after his marriage in 1863. With a rich background in mining so typical of our early Cornish immigrants, John Gribble soon established a successful career. He then switched to broking with the early Ballarat Stock Exchange. A series of significant reverses in stocks and shares resulted in him returning once more to mining. This saw him moving to Stawell, where his second son, William, was apprenticed as a tailor to local draper, Mr G. M. Bond.

Returning to Ballarat, William Gribble eventually set up business on his own, establishing one of the finest drapers and tailors in the city. The store, which was noted for its window displays, was situated at the bottom of Sturt Street, opposite the Galloway monument to the founding of the 8-hour day system. They also had a large premises opposite the Ballarat Agricultural High School.

On leaving school, Ernie joined his family at W. Gribble & Co, where he worked alongside his older brother, Fred, as a cutter.

Ernie was also a fine young sportsman. Like Fred, he was a member of the Ballarat Rowing Club taking pare in their regular regattas on the lake. He was also a member of the Ballarat Lacrosse Club - a sport that was extremely popular at the time. Military training was also very much a part of Ernie’s life – he had started out as a senior cadet before graduating to the 30th Australian Army Medical Corps in the local Citizen Forces.

Ernie and Arthur enjoyed the special relationship of twins. A photograph taken in early 1915, shows two handsome young men – very different in appearance, but their closeness is immediately obvious. They were to be separated for the first time when Ernie volunteered for active service in the Great War.

On 18 March 1915, Ernie presented himself at the Ballarat Recruiting Depot where Dr A. B. Campbell carried out a full physical assessment. At just 19, Ernie was still growing and filling out, but he easily met requirements for the AIF: he was 5-feet 6¾-inches tall, weighed 140-pounds and had an expanded chest measurement of 37½-inches. He had a dark complexion, with brown eyes (with a scar under and over his left eye) and dark hair.

When he was passed fit, Ernie approached his father for consent, which was duly signed on 20 March. He completed his enlistment two days later and was immediately assigned to A Section of the 6th Field Ambulance of the Australian Army Medical Corps, with the regimental number 3186. The unit was under the command of local Ballarat doctor, Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. W. Hardy (q.v.). There was a great amount of pride in being with Colonel Hardy’s Field Ambulance. Ernie sailed from Melbourne on 4 June 1915 onboard HMAT Ajana.

Ernie reached Gallipoli at 2am on 5 September after an eventful trip that involved the torpedoing of the troopship Southland and a lay-over at Lemnos. The 6th Field Ambulance had been onboard the transport Scotian and changed to the Osmania for the last leg of the voyage.

For the next two months, Ernie was kept busy stretcher-bearing through the rough gullies of the peninsula, carrying the wounded, sick and dying to the beach at ANZAC. On 11 November he himself was forced to report sick. Nearly a week later, after admission to the beach hospital, Ernie was evacuated back to Egypt, where he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis suffering from what was termed a slight case of enteric fever. The clinical definition was enterica paratyphoid A. He had suffered from a ‘mild fever of moderate duration.’ Nevertheless, he spent the remainder of the year under care. A medical report on 4 January 1916 found that although he was back on a full diet and his ‘present condition [was] good,’ the doctors concluded it was necessary to repatriate him to Australia for a three-month “change.” Ernie was discharged from the 1st AGH on 20 January and boarded HT Commonwealth the next day for the trip home. He reached Melbourne on 29 February and was admitted to the No5 Australian General Hospital in St Kilda Road.

But for Ernie Gribble the call to arms was strong and, after regaining his full fitness, he returned to duty on 29 March. The decision was made for him to transfer to the Australian Field Artillery and he joined reinforcements for the Field Artillery Brigade at Maribyrnong on 28 April. As a result of the transfer, Ernie was issued with a new regimental number – 16135. He sailed for Europe with the 17th reinforcements to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade on 27 May 1916 onboard HMAT Ascanius.

After training as a bombardier in the ‘Old Country’ for a few months, Ernie was transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade as a gunner with the 119th Howitzer Battery. He reached his new unit, which was then stationed at the Royal Artillery Depot, Boyton, on 26 October.

Training continued at the Boyton Camp well into the New Year. It wasn’t until the 26 March 1917 that Ernie left for Southampton to begin the voyage to France.
Once again, the trip was not without significant drama. The train carrying the draft destined for the 112th Battery was involved in an accident as it neared Albert on 29 March. The train was sitting on the running line when another ploughed into the back of the stationary carriages. Two men were killed and a further six were injured. The unit’s horses were also caught up in the tragedy, with seven killed and ten injured.

Fortunately for Ernie, he escaped the accident unscathed and continued on to Frenchencourt where sections of the 112th Battery were training.

On 1 July, Ernie was transferred to the 5th Australian Division Artillery; he joined the 13th Field Artillery Brigade three days later at Béhencourt, where the men were roughing it in billets that were described as dirty and ‘not of the best.’ Upon joining his new unit, Ernie was posted as a gunner to the 49th Battery.

With the build-up of the Third Battle of Ypres, the brigade was moved into the sector with preliminary orders to occupy positions in front of what remained of the city received on 16 July. The men reached the ‘battle position’ four days later ‘without incident.’
The Ypres Offensive commenced on 31 July and the 13th FAB immediately suffered its first casualties as they come under the attention of hostile shellfire. Ernie Gribble quickly learned the importance of all his training – and the sheer randomness of who survived a day in the line and who did not.

There was also an interesting moment away from the gun pits. The brigade was enjoying a break at St Momelin (across the border into France) and during Church Parade on 16 September, Ernie found himself rubbing shoulders with military royalty. Commander of the Australian Corps, General William Birdwood, and Major-General J. T. Hobbs, who was then commander of the 5th Australian Division, attended the service before presenting a number of officers and men with medals and ribbons.

The unit returned to the Ypres sector towards the end of the month. On 30 September, the 49th Battery took up a position at Chateau Wood on ANZAC Ridge. As they were digging gun pits, the battery attracted shellfire from the enemy desperately defending Glencorse Wood. Among the many casualties was Ernie Gribble, who was hit in the head by shrapnel. He was carried to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance before being immediately transferred to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, one of the many triage hospitals at Remy Siding in the small hamlet of Lijssenthoek, near Poperinge. The sad reality was that major head wounds were nearly always fatal. With a compound fracture of the skull, the damage was significant, and it was quickly realised that Ernie stood no chance of survival. He died on 1 October 1917 and was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery later the same day.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hector Caddy assumed the painful duty of writing to Ernie’s family.

‘…1 October 1917. With deep regrets, I have to confirm the death of your boy Ernest. The batteries moved into position well forward on the night of 29th September, and were very heavily shelled during the night and the next day. Many casualties occurred at all batteries, and the 49th got a little more than its share, poor Ernest being amongst those to ‘get it.’ He received a wound, which it was thought would prove fatal, and was sent away to hospital. Today I see by records that he died. His battery commander speaks very highly of him, and intended to recommend him for a course at the Artillery Officers’ Training School in a little while, as appeared both keen and energetic and showed promise. Major Gatliff also says that he was very good during exceedingly ‘sticky’ times which the batteries have been having recently. Although he had only been with us a few months he was very much liked by all, and the officers looked upon him as a good man. Will you please accept my deepest sympathy in your loss?...’

William Gribble received the dreaded official communication from the Defence Department nearly two weeks after Ernie’s death. The sad procession of newspaper announcements and obituaries quickly followed. And as a mark of respect to the fallen, the flags were flown at half-mast on Ballarat’s Town and City Halls 14 October 1917.

It was to be well into December before Colonel Caddy’s letter reached the family.

On the first anniversary of Ernie’s death, a parcel arrived containing his personal effects. This precious package held, amongst the usual ephemera, a silver cigarette case, wallet, a fountain pen and pencil, the standard pocket Testament and his silver wristwatch.
The Gribble boy’s served their country well in the Great War: apart from Ernie, Fred was twice wounded in action and rose to the rank of lieutenant; he was an original member of the 8th Battalion. Charlie served with the 8th Light Horse, before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps as an air mechanic. All three young men saw service at Gallipoli.

Ernie’s twin, Arthur, served as a draftsman in the Central Planning Office of the Royal Australian Navy during the latter stages of the conflict. It is not known if he attempted to enlist, but as Australia maintained the only fully volunteer force involved in the Great War, he was not compelled to fight. He married quite late in life – his wife was Maryborough-born Mary Bonnie “Bon” Whitney. Together they raised three children in the popular Melbourne suburb of Bentleigh. Arthur died at Windsor on 25 November 1976.

Many years after Ernie’s death, his nephew, Bill Gribble, whilst hitch-hiking through Europe, made an emotional pilgrimage to the grave at Lijssenthoek. His reminiscences of this time are particularly poignant: 'At first I couldn't see the cemetery, but noticed an area enclosed by a low brick wall and when I entered the gate I was staggered by the size of the cemetery - somebody later told me that it is the largest in Belgium, containing 10 000 graves. Even with the details I had from the British War Graves Commission I had trouble finding the grave of Ernest Gribble. All the headstones in the cemetery are of an identical size - just plain oblong headstones standing shoulder to shoulder. On the top of our particular headstone is engraved the Rising Sun emblem and then the inscription - "Gunner E. J. Gribble, Australian Field Artillery, October 1st 1917 - 21 years" after that there is a plain cross and finally "Dearly loved Twin Son of Mr & Mrs W. J. Gribble of Ballarat". On either side are buried two Englishmen who were killed on the same day. The cemetery is a beautiful place with well kept lawns and trees and flowers everywhere. Bill returned that night to his bed at the famous Toc-H (Talbot House) in Poperinge where he found the memories of another time crowded around him: 'The tables in the library reading room are covered with magazines of the wartime era - "The Tattler", "The Illustrated London News", "The Bystander"; some of them with pages open as if they had just now been left that way by soldiers leaving for the front. One doesn't need a vivid imagination to conjure up ghosts in this place, or for that matter, in the whole area.'

One of those ghosts must surely have been that of Ernie Gribble, a much-loved brother, son and uncle, who lies in a grave lovingly tended by the people of Belgium. The cemetery at Lijssenthoek continues to be a place of great beauty; it's flowers and trees make this a place of peace and hope for the future.

Sad Postscript: On 13 July 1918, William Gribble’s younger brother, Hedley, welcomed the arrival of his youngest son, who was given the name Ernest Wilfred Gribble. Sadly, he was to become the second Ernest Gribble on the nation’s Roll of Honour, when he died as a Japanese prisoner of war during the infamous sinking of the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942.