BALDWIN, Ernest

Ernest was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1889 not long before his family moved to the Inverell district and settled on the land at Gum Flat. Ernest was a twenty six year old Farm Labourer when he enlisted at Inverell in January 1916.  He joined the Second Contingent of The Kurrajongs who left Inverell together on 29 February 1916. 

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement which trained at Armidale and Rutherford until leaving Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916. After nine weeks at sea, the Battalion arrived in England where further training took place at Salisbury Plain prior to being sent to France in November. Ernest was promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1917. Four months later he returned to England and was admitted to Reading hospital suffering with Trench feet.  He went back to his unit in January 1918, was wounded in action in April and admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his back.  After rejoining his unit in August he was wounded again.

Ernest returned to Australia in July 1919 and then worked for Mr. Byron Tomlinson on his property at Gum Flat.  He died at Inverell in 1967 and at his funeral a guard of honour was formed by members of the Inverell Branch of the RSL. 

Lance Corporal Ernest Baldwin is remembered at Inverell where his name is inscribed on the Honor Roll.  At Gum Flat his name is recorded on the Honor Roll beside that of his brother Frank who died of wounds in France in 1916. 

Photo: courtesy of family