Hilton Ward Ennis MID
From Our Contribution
 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 AASC (Australian Army Service Corps) 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 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.
Hilton 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. He was granted the 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 Company AASC. 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