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Ephraim Shepherd

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Ephraim Shepherd
Shepherd brothers.jpg
The four Shepherd brothers. Ephraim front right ??
The Westralian Battalion, N Browning, page 209
Personal Information
Date of Birth c1885
Place of Birth Rusington, Sussex, England
Death 11 Nov 1957
Place of Death Maddington, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 31 years, 5 months
Description 5'5¾" (1.67m) tall ; 132lbs
59.874 kg
; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation Labourer
Religion Church of England
Address Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs Lydia Annie Shepherd
Military Information
Reg Number 6147
Date of Enlistment 18 Jul 1916
Rank Corporal
Unit/Formation 28th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation 9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On HMAT A8 Argyllshire Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return 12 Jul 1919 ‒ 16 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On SS City of Exeter
Monument Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

Electoral Roll entry: 1916 River road, Kelmscott, labourer.

Ephraim's enlistment address was either an update of the electoral roll, or where his wife Lydia lived wile he was overseas.

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 18 Jul 1916 and a fortnight later he was allocated to the 18th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. A month later on 4 Sep 1916 he was moved up to the 17th reinforcement draft signifying good progress with his training. He travelled with this group to England, and on arrival was sent to the 7th Training Battalion to prepare for service on the Western Front.

Ephraim proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone on 25 Apr 1917, and on 2 May 1917 he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion who were preparing for an attack the next day on the Hindenburg Line east of Bullecourt. It is unlikely that he was thrown into a fight so quickly as part of each Battalion was kept out of any battle to ensure that there was a nucleus to rebuild around should the worst happen.

On 23 Feb 1918 in Belgium, Ephraim was granted leave to the UK, returning to the battalion on 12 Mar 1918, and on 3 Apr 1919 he was promoted Temporary Corporal before again travelling to England on 26 May 1919 as his journey home to Australia began. He was to spend 5 - 6 weeks at Sutton Veny before boarding the ship home.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 24 Sep 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1954 at Yule street, Maddington, brickmaker. Lydia Annie with him until 1943

Notes


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