Ernest Selkirk MID
From Our Contribution
 | |
 AWM P00088.002 51st Bn Officers 1917. Selkirk front row, 4th from right | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known |
| Place of Birth | Minyip, Victoria |
| Death | 9 Jun 1917 |
| Place of Death | Messines, Belgium |
| Age at Enlistment | 28 years, 8 months |
| Description | 5'7¾" (1.72m) tall; weight 138 lbs (62.6kg); fair complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair. |
| Occupation | Timber yard foreman |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Mabel Kate Selkirk |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2572A |
| Date of Enlistment | 16 Aug 1915 |
| Rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion. |
| Date of Embarkation | 2 Nov 1915 - 26 Nov 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A38 Ulysses |
| Fate | Killed in Action 9 Jun 1917 Messines |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale War Memorial Menin Gate Memorial |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal with MID clasp |
Pre War
On 27 Dec 1911 Ernest married Mabel Kate Hettich.
Electoral Roll entries - 1910 Jarrahdale, mill hand; 1912 - 1915 Marrinup Mill, yard foreman.
War Service
On arrival in Egypt, Ernest and his colleagues trained for the Western Front with the 7th Training Battalion at Zeitoun.
He was an Acting Corporal with the 6th reinforcement draft of the 28th Battalion when he was transferred on 3 Mar 1916 to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt. On transfer his rank reverted to Private, and an A was added to his regimental number.
From 5 -12 Jun 1916 Ernest, along with the rest of the 51st Battalion was aboard HMT Ivernia travelling from Alexandria to Marseilles. On arrival they were carried by train (cattle trucks) to northern France. Promoted to Corporal in France on 17 Aug 1916, and to Temporary Sergeant on 25 Sep 1916.
Promoted to 2nd lieutenant on 8 Feb 1917 [1].
Award Comment
on 7 Nov 1917 he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch for gallant services and devotion to duty in the field during the period 26 Feb 1917 to Midnight 20/21 Sep 1917.(The period relates to the time covered by Haig's despatch, not Ernest's efforts.)[2][3]
Post War
A pension of 70/- per fortnight was granted to Mabel from 18 Aug 1917. Mabel remarried in Jarrahdale during 1920 to Richard Witnish.
Notes
Buried south of Wulveghem - Messines road, just Southwest of Messines. However, the grave could not be located at the end of the war, and thus Ernest is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres.