Ernest Phillip Malzard

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 14/02/2017 - 16:04

First Name:

Ernest

Middle Name:

Phillip

Last Name:

Malzard

Date of Birth:

Sunday, October 4, 1885

Mother's Name:

Clara Malzard nee Winley

Father's Name:

Phillip Malzard

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, October 18, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Pioneer Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, August 18, 1960

Place of Death:

Burwood, N.S.W.

Details:

Ernest Malzard (Service No 3379) was born in Manning River, Western Australia. On 17th June 1909 he married Mary Wells and they had 3 children.

At enlistment Ernest was 31 years old, worked as a labourer and lived at Kiama, N.S.W. but Eernest stated his marital status as 'single'. However, it wasn't until 1937 that Ernest filed for divorce, citing desertion, so the marriage may well have ended when he enlisted.

Ernest embarked from Sydney on HMAT A72 Beltana with 1st Pioneer Battalion, 8th Reinforcement on 25th November 1916. The troops arrived in England on 25th January 1917 and Ernest joined E Company, 1st Pioneer Battalion in France on 11th May 1917 and Ernest saw service on the Western Front.

On 27th February 1918 the Kiama Independent newspaper published a letter from Ernest to his mother, written in early December 1917. In the letter Ernest said he was including a photo of himself so his family could remember him as he was remembering the family.

Ernest was returned to Australia in February 1919 and discharged from the AIF on 1st May 1919.

In 1928 he was working for the N.S.W. Water Board.

Ernest's divorce was granted and in 1939 he married Kate Colless.

Ernest's service is commemorated on the Kiama Memorial Arch & Honour Rolls.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, MALZARD ERNEST PHILLIP