Lest We Forget: Ernest Clifford Stratton Dungog Shire by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 20, 2024November 20, 2024 The grave of Private Ernest Clifford Stratton. Photo: Martin Holmes. THIS story is part of a series about military veterans laid to rest at Dungog General Cemetery by Dungog RSL sub-Branch Vice-President Martin Holmes. NX126073 Private Ernest Clifford Stratton – WW2 Ernest was born at Leichardt NSW in 1919 to parents Ernest and Ellen Stratton. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au He grew up at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains, then moved with his family to Woodburn in Northern NSW, where he was an apiarist in the family business. At age 22 Ernest was mobilised for service in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) and enrolled for service at Woodburn on 22 May 1941. On 26 January 1942 he was enlisted and given service number N166993, being allocated to the 2nd Australian Light Field Ambulance. He began initial training as a driver. Ernest then volunteered for service in the 2nd AIF and was discharged from the CMF, enlisting in the AIF on 4 September at Wauchope with the rank of Private. On 8 November he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Motorised Brigade Company and the following day detached back to his original unit, 2nd Australian Light Field Ambulance, as a driver. On 5 December Ernest’s unit was part of a military convoy where he was a dispatch rider on a motorcycle. The convoy was travelling south on the Bucketts Way at Forbesdale, near Gloucester. Ernest moved out of the convoy to move ahead when he collided head on with a timber lorry driving in the opposite direction and was killed instantly. It was thought he was blinded by dust and did not see the oncoming lorry. His body was taken to Dungog Hospital A Coronial Inquiry was held on the same day at Dungog, which declared he was accidentally killed at Gloucester. Ernest was buried on 7 December in the Dungog General Cemetery (War Section). The Office of Australian War Graves erected a marble headstone to mark his grave as he died while on service. Ernest is only one of two soldiers who died while on military service and is now buried in the cemetery. The sad byline to his untimely death is that he was engaged to Miss Eva Latham of Wauchope and was due to be married five days later on 10 December. Ernest was entitled to the following medals: Australia Service Medal 1939-1945, War Medal 1939-45. His service is recorded on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour but no record on any town memorial has been located. By Martin HOLMES CSM
