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Married: 1919. Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:10006/1919.
Died: 1948. Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:10531/1948.
Ernest Shadrack Key enlisted with B Company 36th Battalion on the 11th of January 1916
and was an original member of the Battalion. he left Sydney on board HMAT A72 "Beltana" on the
13th May 1916 and was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 30th of May. He disembarked at Devonport,
England on the 9th of July 1916. He commenced training with the 9th Training Battalion and
proceeded overseas on the 22nd of November 1916.
Ernest was Taken on Strength in the field with the 36th Battalion and on the 25th of March 1917
he was promoted to Corporal when Corporal: 370 William John STEAD was
Wounded in Action on the 25th of March. Ernest remained in action with the 36th Battalion and was
commended for his bravery and gallenrty during recent offensives at MESSINES on the 18th of June.
The recent offensives took there toll on Ernest and he was admitted to hospital on the 26th of June
for a week and rejoined his Battalion on the 2nd of August and was promoted to Sergeant when
Sergeant: 357 John Thomas STAPLETON received a Commissioned
Rank in the field, and a short time later on the 13th of November Ernest was promoted to Company
Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer2 when Company Sergeant Major: 356 Leo
Aubrey WILSON was Wounded in Action and taken off strength.
8th February 1918
Corporal: 985 Clement Fairfax Morrisby, 33rd Battalion AIF
London Gazette 4th February 1918. Page 1618 Position 131.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 27th of June 1918. Page 1393
Position 75.
On the 13th April 1918 Ernest was Wounded in Action but was only
off the line for a week before he rejoined the Battalion on the 22nd of April and the week after
the 36th Battalion was disbanded on the 30th of April 1918 which saw Ernest being transfered to
the 33rd Battalion as a Compant Sergeant Major.
Ernest was Taken on Strength with the 33rd Battalion on the 6th of May and he was allocated the prefix
A after his service number as now 484a. Ernest was admitted to Hospital as sick on the 10th of
June 1918 and after being discharged he was sent back to England with the 9th Training Battalion
before returning to Australia on the 18th of July and he was discharged from the AIF on the 1st
of September 1919.
Ernest was a single 27 year old Labourer from Agyle Street, Moss Vale, N.S.W. where he was in the
care of R.H.Jarvis.
(Australian National Archives)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 08/11/2007.
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