Lieutenant Ernest Corbett DCM MID
Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal
3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers,
15th & 46th Battalions, AIF,
Australian Instructional Corps.
By Robert Simpson
Ernest Corbett was born in Ireland at Curragh Camp, County Sligo, Kildare on 2nd July 1874 and he was baptised in Newbridge in the same year. He was a son of Samuel Corbett and Elizabeth Moran. Ernest had four sisters and six other brothers that are known of. His Father Samuel was born in 1835 and died in June 1903 and his Mother Elizabeth was born in 1847. His elder sisters, Frances Christina was born on 12th September 1867 in Ireland and Elizabeth Margaret was born in Bombay India on 7th November 1869. There may have been a child born in 1873, according to another family tree, but no other details are recorded. James was born in Ireland on 20th December 1875 and William George in Dublin Ireland at 12 Henrietta Street on 12th February 1877. Samuel’s occupation was listed as a Sergeant in the Dublin Artillery. Samuel Martin was born on 1st November 1878 in Dublin, Margaret on 13th June 1880 in Dublin and Millicent in December 1881 in Dublin. Arthur Henry Corbett was born in April 1884 in Dublin and was admitted to the Royal Hibernian Military School on 22nd September 1893 in Dublin in the Royal Artillery. He died at that school in mid-1895. Robert Charles and Alfred Edward Corbett were both born on 6th February 1886 in Dublin.
His Father, Samuel, served in the artillery. He retired from the Coast Brigade Regiment on 23rd February 1874 as Battery Sergeant Major 4974 after over 19 years-service, including over 3 years in India, having been found unfit for further service due to chronic hepatitis from his Indian service. His service records are available. After being a grocer in Dublin he re-enlisted in the 4th Brigade Northern Ireland Division Royal Artillery Regiment on 30th April 1884 for 5 years in the Militia. He has two service numbers written, 3438 with 2695 underneath. There is a photo of him taken in 1880 in Dublin with a label of Sergeant Major Artillery Militia.
Samuel Corbett
Ernest is listed in the Royal Hibernian School (Ireland) pupil list as being admitted on 31st December 1883 as a 9 year- 6-month-old boy, born 2/7/1874. He was 4 foot 4 inches tall, weighed 5 stone 3 pounds, had a chest size of 25.5 inches. His trade was a tailor. He had the rank of Corporal in the Royal Artillery and was noted as an army volunteer. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers as 2265 on 10th July 1888 in England (according to his Australian service records) at the age of 14 as a Boy in the 1st Battalion. (His attestation form states 18th July). His trade is stated as carpenter. He had spent 4.5 years in Royal Hibernian Military School. His description was 14 years old, 5 foot 3.5 inches tall, weighed 104 pounds, chest 29.5 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Scars were noted in his forehead and right hand. His religion was Church of England. He had been vaccinated as an infant as was revaccinated in 1888. On 22nd August 1889 he was appointed as Drummer.
He served in the 2nd Battalion from 16th October 1889 until he was appointed permanent Staff Sergeant on 18th December 1906 and transferred to the 3rd Battalion. He landed in India on 14th November 1889. In September 1890, St. George’s Gazette (the Regimental magazine) lists Drummer E Corbett 2265 was granted 1 penny Good Conduct pay from 10th July 1890 and was issued with a Good Conduct Badge. This was written from North West Frontier, India. The gazette in January 1893 has a record from Peshawar, India that Drummer E Corbett of B Company was awarded a Second Class Certificate of Education. This was needed for promotion to Sergeant. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 17th March 1893 and appointed paid Lance Corporal on 23rd February 1893. Another gazette has an entry from Singapore noting that Lance-Corporal E Corbett was promoted to Corporal on 1st June 1895.
Ernest and William George Corbett at Rawalpindi in India in 1891
The Royal Humane Society awarded him a bronze medal and this is the extract from its register- Case Number 27836. Lance Corporal Corbett (21) and Private McVey (25) 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers 10pm 28.3.1895 Fort Siloso Singapore. Coltman jumped into the sea from the pier, it is supposed with the intention to commit suicide, about 30 paces from the shore with plenty of sharks about. Both the salvors threw off their tunics and dived in but did not succeed in finding him, and had to abandon their search. Body never recovered. Case sent by the C.O. of the Battalion. Bronze “attempt” medal awarded to each, sent 29th August 1895 by Coombs (Secretary) to the War Office.
A gazette entry in August 1897 in 2nd Battalion records from Verne Barracks, Dorset, England noted that Corporal E Corbett, B Company was promoted to unpaid Lance Sergeant from 17th August, while employed in the Drums. Another entry while still in Verne Barracks in September 1897 noted him as being the 5th best shot of B Company in the Individual Musketry with 182 points and being awarded a prize of 3 shillings for that result. He was noted as a Corporal. In November, at the same place, a record stated that the following Non-Commissioned Officers and Men have passed for promotion in the subjects stated against their names, with Lance-Sergeant Corbett having the subjects A, B, C and F against his name in 1897, and D & E later on in 1898. He was promoted to Sergeant on 31st October 1898. On 4th March 1899 he was permitted to reengage to complete 21 years Army Service. He had a military engineering certificate issued at Chatham on 7th June 1899.
Ernest in Dublin 1897-9
His medical chart whilst in India and Singapore has some interesting entries. Some of the time he had no admission and at other times he was admitted for such things as dysentery in 1891, a severe fever in 1892, Ague in 1893 and 1894, an external ear infection in 1894 and twice for gonorrhoea; once in 1893 in India and 1895 in Singapore. He had one more treatment for gonorrhoea while in Portland England in 1897. All were contagious, mild and treated with injections. Also, whilst back in England he was treated for eczema and a boil in 1899. 2nd Battalion moved from Dorset to Victoria Barracks in Portsmouth in September 1899.
After two months training, the Battalion embarked for South Africa on the SS Kildonan Castle. During the Boer War, the 2nd Battalion sailed as corps troops, and then was brigaded with the 1st Royal Scots and the 1st Sherwood Foresters under General Sir William Gatacre. An entry in the gazette from 2nd Battalion (Detachment), on 7th February 1900 in King William’s Town, talked about the heat and that time went slowly. There was a list of N.C.O.’s and men of the Battalion who subscribed to Major Armstrong’s fund and this included 2265 Sergeant E Corbett who gave 2 shillings. He was with C Company then. The battalions fought in these battles; Belmont, Graspan, Modder River, Magersfontein, Stormberg, Reddersberg, Sanna’s Post and Nooitgedacht. An entry in December 1902 from Ladybrand, South Africa, noted men who had been given four months’ furlough to England and included Sergeant Corbett.
For his service in the Boer War he was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal and the Kings South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps. His service in South Africa was from 4th November 1899 to 10th February 1903. He did not receive any campaign awards for his time in India.
In February 1906, 2nd Battalion notes from Badajoz Barracks, Aldershot state Sergeant Corbett had been posted to the Permanent Staff of our 5th Battalion at Alnwick, Northumberland from the 17th. He would have been responsible for assisting with the training of recruits.
On 17th April 1906 he married Agnes Mary Thornton at Newcastle upon Tyne in Northumberland. She had been previously married to William Herbert Staples who was born in Shoreditch, London in 1871 and had married her in 1895 at Woolwich. The marriage record states William was a Sergeant in 5th Northumberland Fusiliers and living at Aldershot. He was 1465 Colour Sergeant with the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers during the Boer War and had died on 7th May 1901 at Kroonstad. He was awarded the QSA with Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State and 1901 clasps. William had previously been awarded the Sudan Medal with Khartoum clasp in 1899 as a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion. In the Register for the Record of Deceased Soldiers’ Effects, William Staples is listed as record number 83386 with registry number E/20619/4, 5 and 8. He was with the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers as Colour Sergeant 1465 and died at Kroonstad on foreign-service on 7th May 1901. It says he was born in London on 21st May 1886 (obviously an error as he was born in 1871) and was a musician when he enlisted. His next of kin was Agnes M Staples, his widow. She was paid £69 13s 5d on 31st October 1901 as his widow and legatee. The payment included a sum from a roll, deferred pay and war gratuity. Another payment of £3 2s 6d was made on 14th January 1902, an amount from another roll. Agnes’s Father was Richard Thornton, who was a Quarter Master Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery. He had married Mary Plackett in India in 1874.
Another note in May 1906 at Alnwick Camp confirmed that Sergeant E Corbett had been posted to Permanent Staff of the 5th Battalion, from the 2nd Battalion, from 18th February 1906. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 2nd August 1908. There is a note about him being approved to continue his service beyond 21 years on 10th July 1909 and considered fit to do so. He was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 1st November 1909.
Ernest was a member of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemason at the Lodge of Swinburne No 2680, being initiated on 4th January 1910 and resigning on 24th June 1913. He was recorded as a Colour Sergeant living at Newcastle.
In the 1911 Census they were living at St. Andrew, Northumberland at 15 Ancrum St. Spital Tongues and he was a Colour Sergeant with the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. His wife is noted as being a British subject by parentage. Ernest was revaccinated in 1912. On 1st January 1913 he was recommended for the Long Service Good Conduct medal as 2265 Colour Sergeant Ernest Corbett. He was discharged from the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Colour Sergeant with an “Exemplary” character on 9th July 1913. It noted his conduct and character as hardworking, sober and trustworthy. He was Colour Sergeant for 3.5 years and on recruiting staff on and off for the last 5 years. He was discharged on the termination of his second period of engagement under Paragraph 292 (xxi) Kings Regulations at Newcastle on Tyne from Permanent Staff 3rd Battalion. He had a scar on his forehead and right hand. His description states he was 39 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, chest 40 to 42 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. He intended to live at 281 Beaconsfield St, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland. His next-of-kin was listed as his Father, Sergeant Major Samuel Corbett 4 Brigade N. I Dvn. Royal Artillery Dublin, with this being crossed out as deceased and his wife with regiment noted. Ernest notes on his service records “I have no reservations” and signs it with his name “E Corbett Colour Sergeant”. He was paid a gratuity of 5 pounds. Ernest submitted claim 9702 for a pension submitted to the Chelsea Board as 2265 Colour Sergeant with the Northumberland Fusiliers which shows he was in foreign service in India for 5 years 5 months, Singapore for 1 year 10 months and South Africa for 3 years 3 months. His character was exemplary and he had a total of 25 years- service. His pension was a total of 36 pence (presumably daily) with 6 pence being for gallant conduct. He was recommended for the Long Service and Good Conduct medal on 1st January 1913.
In his time with the 2nd Battalion (5th Regiment of Foot) Northumberland Fusiliers they had served in the following locations: –
1881.07.01 2nd Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers
1881India: Bengal
1888 Black Mountain expedition
1889 Hazara
1892 Peshawar
1894 Cherat
1895 Singapore
1896 Gibraltar
1897 UK
1899.11 South Africa 3 Infantry Brigade
1903 England: Gravesend
1909 Dover
1912 Sheffield
1913 India: Sabathu
His military history sheet states his service as Home from 10th July 1888 to 15th October 1889, India 16th October 1889 to 4th March 1895, Singapore 5th March 1895 to 6th January 1897, Home from 7th March 1897 to 3rd November 1899, South Africa 4th November 1899 to 10th February 1903, Home 11th February 1903 to 9th July 1913; a total of 25 years.
On 10th July 1913 they boarded the Orontes in 3rd class and sailed to Australia where they arrived in Sydney on 28th August, but continued on to Brisbane.
He was appointed Staff Sergeant Major 237 Ernest Corbett, Instructional Staff Citizens Militia Force in Brisbane on 21st January 1914, with his trade or calling as soldier and he had served 25 years Northumberland Fusiliers with discharge to a pension. He was 5 foot 9.5 inches, 188 pounds, chest measurement 36-39 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair and religious denomination as Church of England. He had a small semi-lunar scar on the left side of his right knee cap. A Military Order in 1914 from the 1st Military District states E. Corbett late Colour Sergeant Northumberland Fusiliers is temporarily employed in the Instructional Staff with the rank of Acting Staff Sergeant Major.
Ernest enlisted in the 15th Battalion 4th Infantry Brigade on 21st November 1914 at Enoggera as Staff Sergeant Major with a service number of 93 (the rest of his service documents have 94 and this appears to be the correct number). He stated his next of kin to be his wife Agnes Mary Corbett, but the address given was Queensland Government Office, The Strand, London. He stated he had 25 years Imperial service (discharged on expiration of service) and 10 months as Instructional Staff CMF. The records state he was with the machine gun section of the battalion. His pay book number was 142543. His service was stated as for the duration of the war and longer if required. He embarked on HMS Ceramic from Australia on 22nd December 1914. He is listed on the embarkation roll for the 15th Infantry Battalion Machine Gun Section with their address as London. He was on 12 shillings a day of which he took 4, 6 was left in Australia and 2 was deferred. Military Order 690 in 1915 has him joining the 15th Battalion in Queensland with service number of 94.
He proceeded to join the M.E.F. on 12th April 1915 and landed at ANZAC late in the afternoon of the 25th. In the History of the 15th Battalion, among other men at the post was Staff-Sergeant-Major Corbett, and all “these men worked like Trojans and, when relieved on the Thursday by the Royal Marines Light Infantry, left the trenches they had built some five feet deep, with firesteps and (c)rude shelters- a position which in time became almost impregnable.” Ernest was awarded the D.C.M. (Thous partie) on 3rd May 1915 at Quinn’s Post. This was the first DCM awarded to a soldier in a Queensland regiment at Gallipoli. The history records “it was on this parade that the first two men to receive decorations in the 15th Battalion were named. They were 2nd Lieutenant E. Corbett who, as Staff-Sergeant-Major in charge of the battalion machine-gunners after the wounding of Lieutenant H. Kessell on Pope’s Hill, did excellent work during that engagement and at subsequent dates”. Private A “Scotty” Wright also received the DCM.
Ernest was wounded in action at the Dardanelles on 3rd May 1915 with a gun-shot wound and returned on 5th. The battalion was heavily involved with establishing and defending the front line at Quinn’s Post.
He was sent to Alexandria on the Gloucester Castle with dyspepsia on 9th August 1915, then gastritis on the 11th and to a convalescent home at Saba Pasha (Ross House – ex Anglo American hospital) with gastritis and constipation on 24th August. He was released to duty on the 31st August as they had become satisfactory.
His citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal reads “Corbett M.E.E. SSM 94 15th Bn. (Queensland) (Obviously an error with his initials). On May 1915, during operations near Kaba Tepe, for exceptional gallantry in serving his machine-gun after he had been wounded, until it was put out of action, and again for rallying men and leading them to a second attack, retrieving a difficult situation. 3.7.15.” It was promulgated in the London Gazette Third Supplement No. 21980 dated 3rd June 1915. Another document from Headquarters New Zealand and Australian Division state he was wounded on Pope’s Hill. The 15th Battalion had the most casualties of any unit in the AIF that landed at Gallipoli.
The book Quinn’s Post reads “Clifton described the attack as ‘a disastrous bungle’, but he also drew attention to ‘a want of ordinary leadership’, damning the ‘white-livered beggars’ who dug scrapes in the shelter of the gully-sides, keeping tools back from where they were needed. ‘And the worst of the ghastly affair,’ he concluded, was that ‘the best men get shot’. They included seven young officers of the 15th killed or missing. The survivors bitterly criticised what they had been asked to do. Stewart Stormonth said that if the Turkish trenches had simply been filled in then evacuated, fewer that 50 men would have been lost. Afterwards, when Monash came around the survivors’ bivouacs, he spoke to Staff Sergeant Ernest Corbett and asked about the machine-guns. Corbett told him that they had not been used well. Monash contradicted him – though he had spent the night at brigade headquarters – and looked at Corbett sternly. As Monash moved on, Edward Little heard Corbett mutter softly but forcefully that Monash was ‘a bl—dy liar!’ Corbett’s scorn was justified. A regular, just a week before he had been recommended for the DCM for rallying his machine-gunners and, though wounded, keeping then in action. Corbett’s assertion did not damage his career: he was commissioned that day and survived three years fighting on the Western Front.”
He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 31st May 1915, on the morning after the charge.
On 12th July 1915 he received a special mention in despatch from G.O.C.M.E.F. Sir Ian Hamilton.
On 1st December 1915 he was placed on the supernumerary list. On 12th March 1916 he was transferred to the 12th Brigade and he was taken on strength of the 46th Battalion on 24th March at Tel-el-Kebir. He was marched out to 4th Training Battalion as their Adjutant was temporally absent.
He qualified at the Range Finder Course held at the School of Musketry on Hayling Island from 5th to 13th March 1916.
At Tel-el-Kebir on 12th March 1916 he was taken on strength of 46th Battalion and then transferred to 12th Infantry Brigade on the 13th. He is listed in Military Orders as 15th Battalion 2nd Lieutenant E. Corbett and transferred to 46th Battalion on 13th March. They also note him being with the 4th Infantry Training Battalion and performing duties as Adjutant during the period of 29th March to 5th August 1916. In 1917 a Military Order states he ceased to be seconded with the 4th Training Battalion and assumed regimental duty on 5th May.
He was admitted to Fargo Hospital in Rollestone on 25th September 1916 with chronic constipation and was discharged on 10th November.
Ernest was appointed Honorary Lieutenant 6th March 1917and from Tidworth on 2nd May 1917 he proceeded overseas to France. On the 5th he ceased to be seconded with the 4th Training Battalion and assumed regular duty and marched out to join the unit. He re-joined the unit on the 6th. On 22nd May 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant in the field. He was detached to the 46th Battalion on 6th June 1917 and re-joined the unit on the 10th. On the 26th he proceeded on detachment to 12th Training Battalion in England for duty. Another Military Order on 17th November states 2nd Lieutenant E Corbett was to be a Lieutenant. In another Order he was seconded for duty with the 12th Training Battalion on 23rd July 1917.
The Warrant for his appointment as 2nd Lieutenant 15th Battalion as a temporary Warrant Officer in the Regular Forces was posted to his wife at Queensland Government Office, The Strand London; so, the army did not have their Queensland address. On 20th December 1917 a note was sent from A.I.F. Headquarters in London to Base Records in Melbourne saying it had been unclaimed and an address was being sought to post it to. His records also note an address for his wife of 99 Lansdowne Rd. Seven Kings Ilford Essex so they must have lived there before they moved to Australia. He was entitled to 1 red and 3 blue chevrons at 22nd December 1917.
On 11th April 1918 he was transferred from 46th Battalion to Permanent Supernumerary List and posted for duty with A.I.F. Depot in U.K.
A letter dated 28th August 1918 stated that transport was to be organised for Lieutenant Corbett for return to Australia for termination of appointment- Services no Longer Required, which was approved and he had to proceed to Weymouth to await embarkation. Correspondence in September 1918 refers to Ernest being sent back to Australia for termination of his appointment as “services no longer required”. He did not like that and stated it would leave a stigma on his character even over his previous service. He gives various arguments in his defence and asks that his discharge details be changed. After other correspondence it is noted that his discharge should be changed to “on medical grounds”. The comment was also made that at no time was his ability or efficiency in query. He stated that he could not do all his duties at times as he was unable to, due to a bowel complaint, which he contracted in March 1915 in Egypt by being thrown from a gun limber which then passed over him. A short time after, he was admitted to hospital with stoppage of the bowels. He stated that he had not recovered, nor was he ever likely to recover from it.
His records state he was unfit for general service but permanently fit for home service and was recommended to board the next ship at Codford on 14th October 1918. The nominal roll states he returned to Australia on 6th November 1918 and he was a Lieutenant in the 46th Battalion.
He was returned to Australia on D27 Marathon, for age and constipation, and was struck off strength. He arrived in Melbourne on 1st January 1919 en route for Brisbane. On 21st February 1919 Ernest applies to the Department of Repatriation for the refund of the return of his wife’s passage money from England to Australia and gives his address as “Walterdale” Hobart Rd, Murrumbeena, so she must have been in England at some time during the war and they lived there before shifting to Northcote. Particulars of his A.I.F. Service are also included in his British records. A form to determine his pension is in his British service records and includes his Chelsea Number as 9702/D. A series of calculations determines his daily rate of Pension as 49 pence a day from 1st April 1919.
From the 1st Military District (Queensland) his appointment was terminated on 5th March 1919 in Brisbane and another Order states that W.O. Class II E Corbett was to be transferred from the 1st to 3rd Military District and no expense to the Department was to be incurred. The reason his appointment was terminated being medical unfitness (age and constipation). A file under Medical case files under NAA: J26, M13254 gave all his usual details showing he was a Lieutenant in the Permanent Supernumerary List, with date of birth 2.7.1874. It does not have a stated place or state for enlistment, but has, written in another pen, the date of enlistment as 10.5.15 (in error)? He served in Egypt and France, returning to Australia on HMT Marathon, on 24th December 1918 and was discharged at Brisbane on 5.3.19 for age and constipation. It notes his physical condition at time of discharge as “Incap. Nil.” His employment before enlistment was Soldier with HM Forces in Brisbane. The application W14315 was lodged on 23rd January 1919.
The 1919 Electoral roll gives their address as 20 Edward St. Northcote, Melbourne with his occupation as military forces. But they are still listed in Brisbane on the 1921 roll at Charteris St. Paddington, Toowong with his occupation listed as soldier. Possibly they had not notified the Electoral Commission in Queensland of the change, but they must have lived there after arriving in Queensland and up until they shifted to Victoria. The 1920, 1921, 1922 1924 and 1925 rolls for Victoria have them still living at 20 Edward St.
On 20th March 1920 he was listed in the Instructional Staff of the 3rd Military District. He signed a Permanent Forces re-engagement paper as 237 W.O.2 (Hon Lieut.) in the Australian Instructional Corps for a period of 3 years on 21st January 1919, 21st January 1922 and 21st January 1925. On all three occasions he passed his medical.
On 24th September 1920 he asks for his medals to be forwarded to the 3rd Military District (Victoria) and the medals and his Warrant Officer form were sent to him there. In late 1920 he was treated for Pyorrhoea and Dysentery and discharged to duty.
Military Order 468 on 23rd October 1920 lists the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to Warrant Officer Class 2 E Corbett DCM 3rd Military District. The Commonwealth Gazette No 89 of 21st October 1920 records WO Cl 2 E Corbett DCM as Instructional Staff in 3rd MD.
A request from Ernest on 15th October 1920 was replied to on 4th January 1921 stating that his Form of Commission was sent to his next-of-kin in England on 30th December 1918 from A.I.F. Headquarters in England. He gives his address as 20 Edwards St. Northcote Victoria. This was after some correspondence saying the form had been sent to 1st Military District but it was not there and he did not know where it had been sent.
On 5th January 1922 a request from the Imperial Pensions Office for his particulars of his A.I.F. service is replied to by Base Records. Ernest had asked the IPO for an increase in his pension. He also stated in his letter to Base Records his service record and that his cause of discharge was “termination of engagement”.
On 3rd February 1926 his brother, William George writes and asks if Base Records could forward a letter to Ernest as he does not know his address and had been advised by Australian House London to ask Base Records to forward the letter on. It is signed W. G. Corbett of 6 Olive Terrace Owlerton, Sheffield, England. The letter was passed on. William died in 1930.
On 7th November 1927 the Finance Officer in the 3rd Military District asks for his weekly rate of salary as he is being discharged on 11th March 1928 and it was stated as being at 7 pounds. He had also asked for payment in lieu of furlough on discharge for his 14 years-service. His reason for retirement was as he was medically unfit under A.M.R. 358 xiv.
For his payments the Superannuation Board also required the details of his wife’s place of birth (born in Meerut India) and the date and place of their marriage. His Conduct Sheet has nothing entered on it.
He had medical certificates of fitness for active service issued in 1922 and 1927. He also had recommendations for sick leave issued on 5th December 1923 for influenza, on 16th May 1924 for influenza, on 10th September 1924 for pertussis, on 26th September 1927 for astigmatic conjunctivitis, on 10th October 1927 for neurasthenia caused by uncorrected astigmatism of eyes and on 25th November 1927 for him suffering from rarely general paralysis.
Ernest was transferred to Retired List with rank of Lieutenant on 26th March 1928. His proceedings on discharge form gives his rank as SSM 2nd Class (WO1) Hon Lieutenant of the Australian Instructional Corps and the date of 25th March 1925 (obviously an error as it should be 1928) at Melbourne with the same description as before and his intended place of residence as 20 Edward St, Westgarth, Melbourne, Victoria. He was discharged in consequence of being medically unfit. His conduct and character while in the service have been, according to the records, exemplary. He had a 2nd Class certificate in education. The back of the form states statement of service up to 25th March 1928 was 14 years 65 days and all the dates shown have 1928, so maybe front page was an error.
His Statement of Service reads- Served with 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers from 10th July 1888 to 9th July 1913 (25 years) and he was discharged then with a rank of Colour Sergeant, he had a Second-Class Certificate of Education and his character on discharge was exemplary. In the Instructional Staff he was Acting, and then Staff Sergeant Major on 21st January 1914, promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class 14th November 1917, transferred from 1st to 3rd Military District on 4th March 1919 and received a Meritorious Service medal in 1920. He received an Honorary Commission in 1922 and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1 on 31 March 1923, re-enlisted for 3 years on 21st January 1925 and was discharged on 25th March 1928. His total Australian service was 14 years and 64 days.
The Personal Record Card – Permanent Forces for him states he was with the Imperial Army in the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers from 10th July 1888 to 9th July 1913, then the Australian Imperial Force from 1st September 1914 to 1st January 1919. It gives his next of kin as Mrs A M Corbett wife 20 Edward St Northcote.
His wife, Agnes, passed away on 18th October 1929 in the Caulfield Convalescent Hospital and was buried in Warringal cemetery on the 21st. Her death notice reads: – “CORBETT.- On the 15th October, at the Corfield Convalescent Hospital, Agnes Mary Corbett, the dearly beloved wife of Ernest Corbett, late of 18 Edward street, Northcote South, aged 54 years.” The grave was purchased by William Randles, 18 Edward St. Northcote as the executor of her estate. He was a railway employee as recorded in electoral rolls. As Ernest was still alive it can only be concluded that as there was no other family member around, he was not competent enough to do it himself. There was also a notice in the newspaper of her death stating where she died and that she was late of 18 Edward St. Northcote, was the dearly beloved wife of Ernest and aged 54 years. She must have spent her last days with the neighbours looking after her, before she went into hospital, as the Corbett’s address was 20 Edward St.
Ernest passed away in Heidelberg, Victoria on 4th May 1931. He was buried at Warringal cemetery on the 6th in the same grave as his wife.
The Victoria Government Gazette, published Wednesday 8th July 1931, has the following entry: –
Estates of Deceased Person
Particulars of the Estates of Deceased Persons which the Curator has been appointed to administer during the past month. June 1931.
The following table has at line 5 these details: –
Name of Deceased – Ernest Corbett
Australian Residence – An inmate for the Hospital for the Insane, Mont Park
Supposed British or Foreign Residence – unknown
Date of Order – 11.6.1931
Value or Estimated Value of Estate – 288 pounds 14 shillings and 6 pence
Date of Death – 4.5.1931
In his Officers Record of Service is a note stating inmate of McLeod Asylum. (This was opened 1912 and closed in the 1990’s. The complex was representative of the response of the Victorian Government to the requirements of World War One in that the buildings intended for the care of the mentally ill were handed over for use as hospital facilities for the Australian Army for the duration of the war (Criterion A.4). It reverted back to its original use after the war. The Military Mental Hospital was set up as a hospital to admit cases of war-neurosis. The purpose of setting up a separate hospital was to avoid the stigma that might be attached to admitting veterans to other mental hospitals.)
As this was the only Ernest Corbett who died in the time period in Victoria, it has to be him. So what drove him to the state of mind that he had to be institutionalised? It is only speculation what happened, it would seem he was in the asylum before his wife died. He was certainly not competent enough to handle her estate. It is a sad ending to such a dedicated and brave soldier.
There is also a note in his service records about dying subsequent to termination of appointment dated 8/6/39 in 3rd MD list.
Their grave reads “In loving memory of Agnes Mary Corbett 18-10-29. and Ernest Corbett 8-5-31.
With his brothers and sisters-
The first born was Frances Christina Corbett, born 12th September 1867 in Ireland. She was baptised at Althone on 14th November 1868 with her father listed as a Sergeant with 9th Brigade, Royal Regiment of Artillery in the register. She is also recorded in the Catholic Parish Register on 20th September 1869 in Fermoy, Cork, Ireland. In the 1901 English census, she was at Aldershot Military in Stanhope and Wellington Lines, Hampshire, England at the Royal Army Medical Corps Depot. She had married (in mid-1886) and her husband was in South Africa. They had four children. Her sister Mary was also with her. In the 1911 census, they were living at Stoke Devonport and her husband, Charles William Kinsella was Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the RAMC. He served in WW1 and died in 1922. After that, it is not known what happened to Francis.
Elizabeth Margaret married James Aitken on 20th November 1888 in Dublin North, Ireland. James had been born in Scotland in 1861, was a mason before joining on 12th September 1879 in Northumberland as Private 2470 in the 2/5 Northumberland Fusiliers. He was discharged as Quarter Master Sergeant in 5th Northumberland Fusiliers permanent staff on 17th November 1903. As shown in the 1911 census, they had 11 children and he was an Army Pensioner, Chief Agent. They were living in Ilford. James died in 1926 and Margaret in 1934 in Essex.
Elizabeth Margaret Corbett
There is a picture of James in uniform as a drummer in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment taken at York in 1890. No service records can be found for him that can be confirmed. There are Boer War medal rolls for J Corbett with the 1st Battalion West Riding Regiment and a WW1 service record for James Corbett in the East Surrey Regiment, but neither can be verified as being this James. In the 1901 census, he is a Drummer with Infantry at York Infantry Barracks and single and 24 years old. No other records can be found on him.
James Corbett, taken in York dated 1890
William George has service records available; apparently, he was not the best of soldiers with him having an alcohol problem. He joined in 1891 in the Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 6037, and was discharged in 1904 due to dental caries; he re-enlisted in 1904 for Short Service as Private 633 and was discharged in 1914. He re-enlisted again in the Special Reserve as Private SR9068 but after 6 weeks was discharged as not likely to be an efficient Special Reserve. There are some interesting stories in his service records including a Court of Enquiry in 1906 over him losing his QSA medal, in which they called it a wilful loss and his character was called into question over his addiction to drink. He married Emily Vaughan on 30th December 1905 in the Catholic Church at Aldershot. Ernest was present at the wedding. They had three children, Gwendoline Elizabeth born in 1908, Arthur Samuel born in 1911 and William George born in 1914. His granddaughter stated he served in India for about 2 years and he ended his army career in Sheffield in 1913 (different to above). In the 1911 census, he was listed as a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers at the 51st and 65th Regimental Depot at Wakefield Road Famshalf, Pontefract and he was married. He passed away in Sheffield in 1930.
William George Corbett and Emily
Samuel Martin joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on 15th December 1892 as a 14 year- old. His occupation was listed as tailor. After being promoted to Corporal, he was demoted to Private for poor conduct and neglect of orders. He went to South Africa as Corporal 9884 and awarded QSA with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, 1901 and 1902 clasps. The medal roll says not entitled to KSA, but his service record indicates he was. Samuel also served in Gibraltar for nearly 3 years. He was discharged after 18 years-service on his own request on 25th January 1911 at the age of 32, with a bad character as he was addicted to drink. Samuel was trained in first aid and ambulance duties, nursing and was a good hairdresser. The record gives his full description including tattoos. He was asking for a discharge with a view to a pension. He received a pension from 9th February 1911. Samuel enlisted in the AIF on 3rd May 1915 at the Depot at Liverpool, stating he was 37 years and 7 months old, born in Dublin and was a waiter. He gave his mother as next of kin, Mrs Elizabeth Corbett of 56 Roselyn Gardens Ilford, London. His previous service was 18 years with the RAMC, being discharged with a modified pension at his own request. A note in his record says he transferred from 6th Reinforcements 4th Battalion to Field Hospital on 1st June 1915. His record is stamped with “No further record available”, signed by the AAG 2nd Military District and dated 16th March 1920. In his records is a letter forwarded on from the Police Department to the State Commandant in Sydney on 26th July 1915. The top part of the letter is in red and reads: “Subject:- Dead body of man dressed in military uniform found in the door way of 25 Little Hay Street, Hay Market, by Thomas Colley of 176 Commonwealth Street, about 8 a,m, this date.” It was from No 2 Police Station, Regent St, Sydney on 25th July 1915 and said: “I beg to report that on instructions from Sergeant Priddle I went to 25 Little Hay Street, about 8.15 a,m, to day, and found in the doorway of an empty shop (No. 25) the body mentioned above. The body was in a reclining position, the left shoulder and side of head being against the door post and the face resting on the palm of the left hand. The body was dressed in Military uniform with the exception of head covering but later on a military cap was found in Kimber Lane a few yards away. The clothing on the body was not disarrayed in any way, it bore no marks of dust or dirt and from the surroundings I would infer that the man died in his sleep. In the doorway alongside the body I found an empty brandy flask. The Civil Ambulance took the body to the Sydney Hospital and from there to the City Morgue. The body was so stiff that I believe it was dead for some hours before it was found. There was nothing on the body to indicate the name. About 7p.m. to night Private Sydney Siggers of the Army Medical Corps stationed at Liverpool identified the body as that of Samuel Corbett who was a member of the same Corps and had been missing for some days and was posted as a deserter. Private Siggers said that Corbett had previous service in the Imperial Army and appeared to be about 45 years of age.” It was signed Constable 1/C Richard Pestell No 7889. Private 7781 Sydney Walter Pierse Siggers served with First Australian General Hospital, Special Reinforcements, enlisting on 7th May 1915 and returning to Australia on 22nd July 1917. Victoria Barracks Sydney sent Defence Melbourne a telegram stating “regret report that private Samuel Martin Corbett army medical corps Liverpool depot found dead in street in Sydney on 25th July stop next of kin unknown stop cause of death will be notified later.” The certificate was sent on 19th August 1915. It says that he died of “acute alcoholism” and an inquest was unnecessary. It also stated Samuel had been in NSW for 6 years, was a labourer and was single. Samuel was buried in grave 516 in Rookwood Cemetery. He was not eligible for a memorial scroll or plaque. He was actually 36 years old.
Samuel Martin Corbett about 1907
Margaret married Edward Kerstein at Hamilton in Bermuda on 22nd July 1902. Edward had been naturalised in 1882. He served in South Africa with the Royal Army Medical Corps as Corporal 11714. He was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 clasps. In WW1, he went from Warrant Officer to Captain and Quartermaster, entered France on 7th October 1914 and was entitled to the 1914 star with clasp and roses, British War and Victory medals. They had two children. Edward died in 1929. In the 1939 register, Margaret was living in Surrey and was listed as incapacitated. She passed away in 1960.
Margaret Corbett
With Millicent, apart from her birth, nothing else is known about her.
There are no details about Alfred Edward, except he served in the Army Service Corps as a Bandsman.
Robert’s service records are online, he joined the ASC as a 14-year old for 12 years on 27th January 1900 in Dublin as Boy T/15377. He was just over 4 foot 9 inches tall, weighed 81 pounds, had a chest measurement from 29 to 31 inches and was of fresh complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. On a letter, he was to be sent to Woolwich for training as a trumpeter. Robert had 4 years at the Royal Hibernian Military School where his conduct was very good. He transferred to the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 13th May 1908. A court of enquiry in 1910 declared that 2039 Private R C Corbett of the 3rd Dragoon Guards illegally absented himself from them at Aldershot on 22nd June 1910 and was still absent. No other records can be found for him.
Ernest’s medals are Distinguished Conduct Medal, Queens South Africa with Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps and the Kings South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War medal, Victory medal with Mention in Despatches emblem, Long Service and Good Conduct medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Royal Humane Society medal. A Gallipoli medallion was also issued.
With thanks to-
Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland
Peter Dallow
Paul Corbett
Nancye Hardie
For their assistance in suppling information, records and photos.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
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