HILL, Ernest Ludgate

Private, 26th Battalion,  Australian Infantry
Service No: 5048
Died: 14/11/1916
Age: 18

Remembered on Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Ernest is recorded on the
Greyabbey and District War Memorial
at Greyabbey (St Saviour’s) Parish Church

Ernest Ludgate Hill was born in Greyabbey, Co. Down, on 25th December 1897. He was the son of Marshall Hill, a teacher, and his wife Sarah Louisa Hill (nee Ludgate) and the second of their six children.

Ernest grew up in Greyabbey but emigrated to Australia around 1914-15 where he worked on a farm.

He enlisted on 2nd February 1916 in Lismore, New South Wales, lying about his age when doing so by adding three years.

Initially placed in the 11th Depot Battalion he was then posted to the 14th Depot Batt. on 26th March 1916. He then joined 13th Reinforcement, 26th Battalion, on 1st April 1916.

Ernest embarked on the "Franconia" for England on 2 August 1916 before landing in France on 24th September 1916. He left Etaples on 2 October 1916 to join his unit at the front the following day.

He was initially reported missing on 14th November 1916, but on 19th April 1917, a report received through the Red Cross recorded him as a prisoner of war in Limberg, Germany.

This later proved incorrect and on 15th October 1919 was officially reported as killed in action on 14th November.

Barry Niblock, on his website North Doan and Ards War Dead, records the following: "Sometime later his family received a few of Ernest’s personal effects from a German soldier who forwarded them after Ernest died. The German soldier whose forename was Ernst had come upon Ernest’s body on the battlefield and had recovered the items from the pockets of Ernest’s uniform."