Ernest Benjamin Palframan
Regimental number: 3367 Rank: Private
Returned to Australia (RTA)
Ernest Benjamin Palframan was born on 22 November 1874 in Yorkshire, England to George and Martha Palframan. He married Ellen Webb in 1900 in Queensland. They lived in Thorpe Street Bulimba.
Ernest enlisted as a 42 year old labourer on 12 February 1917 in Brisbane. He allocated three fifths of his wages to support his wife and children.
After training at Enoggera, he was assigned as a Private to the 42nd Battalion. He embarked on 14 June 1917 from Sydney on the “HMAT Hororata” A20 bound for England. On 4 March 1918 that Ernest was sent to France with the 52nd Battalion. He received a gunshot wound on 5 April 1918 while in action resulting in a serious leg injury.
Ernest was sent to Hospital in England. His leg still had metal in it, causing a blood clot. He had a “wasting” of the leg muscles and a lung problem (fibrosis), so the medical board decided he was unfit for active service and returned him to Australia on 30 June 1918.
He was admitted to the 6th Australian General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane for further recuperation. He returned to his family in November 1918. Ernest was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The family moved around to different houses in Bulimba. By the 1940s, the Palframan’s were living in Brisbane Street when he died on 21 July 1945, aged 70 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
