Ernest Albert Booth

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Fri, 26/10/2018 - 16:34

First Name:

Ernest

Middle Name:

Albert

Last Name:

Booth

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Ann Booth (nee Wakem)

Father's Name:

Robert John Booth

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, February 12, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

9th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Details:

Ernest Albert Booth (Service No 5777) was born in Kiama, NSW.

He enlisted at Lismore, NSW when he was 19 years of age; at that time Ernest was single & worked as a diary farmer at Horseshoe Creek, Kyogle, NSW. Ernest nominated his father as his next of kin.

He embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 4 May 1916, with 9th Battalion. After arriving in Egypt Ernest was marched in to 3rd Training Battalion on 9 Aug 1916.

On 10 October 1916 Ernest was admitted to hospital and over the next few months was repeatedly hospitalised. In January 1917 he was diagnosed to be suffering from the mumps.

On 2 May 1917 Ernest was sent to join the fighting in France. Some of his papers (National Archives of Australia) mention a wounding and hospitilisation.

Ill health continued to be a problem for Ernest with more hospital stays in January & February 1919, and finally in April 1919 he was found to be suffering from Bell's paralysis (palsy). This does not seem to have resolved and Ernest was repatriated to Australia, arriving on 4 August 1919.

Ernest was discharged from the AIF on 4 August 1919, medically unfit.

Ernest's brothers Robert John Booth (Service No 5778) & William Wallace Booth also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BOOTH E A