Ernest TATTERSALL
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4904), Ernest Tattersall was born at Parkes, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 31 years and 11 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as miner. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 154 lbs., with a medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
A letter from his sister in his service record states that ‘He enlisted at Wellington with the Coo-ees’. [2] He completed his medical examination at Wellington on 16th October 1915. He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Mumbil on 19th October 1915.
After the Coo-ee March he went into Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 3rd February 1916 Private Tattersall was charged with being absent without leave from Liverpool Camp. He was fined 10 shillings.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Piesley Street, Orange, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his sister Mrs. F. Phillips, at the same address.[3]
On 8th March 1916 Private Tattersall departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, along with many of the other Coo-ees, as part of the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On the 16th of April 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion.
On 4th June 1916 Private Tattersall left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.
Private Tattersall served with the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France until 14th October 1916, when he was sent to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from an ulcer to the left leg. He was moved back to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station. On 15th October 1916 he was placed aboard the 23rd Ambulance Train for evacuation to the 25th General Hospital at Hardelot, France, where he was admitted on 16th October 1916.
On 20th October 1916 Private Tattersall was placed aboard the Hospital Ship St David at Boulogne for evacuation to England. On 21st October 1916 he was admitted to the Tonbridge General Hospital.
He was discharged from hospital on 23rd November 1916 for leave until 8th December 1916. He marched in to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England, on 9th December 1916.
On 12th January 1917 Private Tattersall went before a Medical Board where he was classified as C2 [unfit for overseas temporarily unfit for home service].
On 10th April 1917 Private Tattersall was transferred to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England. A document in his service record dated 10th April 1917 at Weymouth noted ‘Old injury L. leg. Leg swells after marching’.
On 17th April 1917 Private Tattersall was detached for duty with the Ordinance Depot at Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth.
On 22nd July 1917 Private Tattersall left England on the H.T. Nestor bound for Australia.
He arrived at Sydney on 25th September 1917, and was discharged Medically Unfit on 24th October 1917, with a compound fracture to the left leg [pre-existing injury from 10 years before].
Note: Ernest Tattersall died from Pneumonic Influenza in Sydney on 14th March 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, TATTERSALL ERNEST
[2] NAA: B2455, TATTERSALL ERNEST, letter from Mrs F. Phillips to Officer in Charge, Base Records Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Victoria, 24th August 1916.
[3] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Ernest Tattersall, HMAT Star of England A15, 8 March 1916.
1915 Coo-ee March 