Hilton Ward Ennis MID

Hilton Ward Ennis MID

Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	30 May 1887
Place of Birth	Bathurst, New South Wales
Death	26 Oct 1946, aged 59
Place of Death	Daglish, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 11 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 175lbs 79.379 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Quantity Surveyor
Religion	Church of England
Address	Albany road, Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Lucy Alice Ennis
Military Information
Reg Number	[1]
Date of Enlistment	18 Mar 1915
Rank	Captain
Unit/Formation	Australian Army Service Corps - 16th Company
Date of Embarkation	22 May 1915 ‒ 23 Jun 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A19 Afric
Date of Return	4 Jan 1919 ‒ 12 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Morvada
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Mentioned in Despatches

Pre War

The fifth of six children born to William Henry Ellis and Elizabeth Ward, he moved with the family to WA from NSW. Hilton attended the Highgate State School, and after school worked in the timber and construction industries. On 8 Apr 1915 he married Lucy Alice Warren (1886 - 1963). Prior to enlisting in the AIF, Hilton had served with the 22nd Army Service Corps Militia as a Cadet 2nd Lieutenant for 18 months. Electoral Roll entry: 1910 at 49 Wright street, Perth, carpenter. 1911 Post Office Directory entry has him as a clerk living in Albany road, Gosnells.

War Service

Commissioned on 16 Mar 1914 as a 2nd Lieutenant, and mobilised for duty on 2 Sep 1914. Provisionally promoted Lieutenant on 1 Jul 1915. Hilton was promoted to Captain of the 16th Company, Australian Army Service Corps (A.A.S.C.) on 26 April 1916.

On 20 Mar 1916 he proceeded to join the B.E.F. in France from Alexandria. On 17 Apr 1917 he sought treatment for scabies from the 7th Australian Field Ambulance, rejoining his unit the same day.

Hilton enjoyed leave quite a few times. In 1916, he had leave to England from 17 October to 1 November. The following year he had leave from 8 February to 1 March in England, from 5 to 11 June in Paris, from 31 July to 12 August in England, and from 4 November to 12 December in England. In 1918, he did not have leave until 4 to 22 August. His return to Australia was classified as on duty with the Army Pay Office. Appointment terminated on 6 Apr 1919.

Also served during WW2 aged 55 with Reg No. W232646. Hilton enlisted on 26 Jul 1942 and was discharged on 3 Aug 1943 having served as a Captain with AASC 13 Mixed Brigade, and granted rank of Major when placed on the Retired List.

Award Comment

Exceptionally good services and consistent devotion to duty, while in command of the 16th Coy, A.A.S.C. from 26th February to 20th September 1917.

MID Awarded and Gazetted, 'London Gazette', second supplement No30448 dated 28 Dec 1917; Commonwealth Gazette No 57 dated 18 Apr 1918. Australian War Memorial

Post War

On returning to Perth Hilton remained with the A.A.S.C. and transferred to 10th Light Horse on 1 May 1921 before finally being placed on the list of Reserve Officers. He resumed working with his pre-war employer and by 1925 holding the position of business manager now residing with his wife at Sandford Street, Geraldton until he resigned in 1928. His time in Geraldton was over shadowed in 1927, when he became involved in an affair with a married woman called Mrs June Lupp which led to a tragic end, when through her unhappiness of being rejected by Hilton over the telephone, she went to Hilton’s house in Geraldton to remonstrate with him, but could not gain access, so pulled out a gun and shot herself in the chest on the verandah. These events and the inquest made good copy for the newspapers and was reported in The Age (Melbourne), the Register (Adelaide) and Truth (Perth),

Electoral Roll entries: 1921 Clifton street, Bunbury, accountant; 1925 - 1926 Sanford street Geraldton, business proprietor; 1931 at Levy terrace, Daglish, contractor; 1937 - 1943 at 16 Troy terrace Wembley Park, no occupation;

Notes

Based on an article in the Sunday Times, 30 Mar 1919, it would seem that Lucy joined her husband in the UK and joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (1917–1918). Later it was re-named the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (1918–1920). It appears that she was a surgical nurse who was awarded the Queen Mary Medal with bar. Son Rex Warren (1918 - 1966). Rex was born in Southampton, Hampshire on 3 Dec 1918 prior to Hilton and Lucy's return to Australia.

For further information on this soldier, or for more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011