Ernest Ormrod

Private 8/2094

1st Bn, Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.

Ernest died on 16 September 1916, aged 21. He has no known grave, and his name is commemorated on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial.

Ernest was the son of Edwin and Emily Ormrod, of 35 Broughton St, South Dunedin.

He was originally a native of Pendlebury, Lancashire, and was living there at the time of the 1901 Census.

The details of Ernest and his family from the 1901 Census are as follows.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Ernest was living with his family, at the home of their maternal grandfather, Isaac Greenhalgh, now living at 109 Pendlebury Road, Swinton.

Ernest enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 13 February 1915, and sailed from New Zealand on 13 June 1915.

On 9 August 1915 Ernest joined 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, at Anzac Cover, Gallipoli.

He was wounded in action on 30 August 1915, and evacuated from the peninsula to the 25th Casualty Clearing Station on Imbros; later rejoining his unit at Sarpi Camp, Lemnos, on 20 September 1915.

Having disembarked in Alexandria on 27 December 1915, Ernest embarked for France on 6 April 1916.

At the time of his death, on 16 September 1916, the Otago Battalion were fighting in the vicinity of High Wood on the Somme.

Ernest is remembered on the war memorial of Christ Church, Swinton. His obituary, published in the local Swinton paper read:

"Swinton "New Zealander" Killed

Information was received a few days ago by Miss E. Ormrod, Gower-st, Pendelbury, that her cousin, Private Ernest Ormrod, formerly of Swinton, was killed on Sept. 16th in France whilst serving with the New Zealand contingent. The news was sent by a comrade, who writes as follows:-

"On the 16th September, Ernest was one of several in our battalion detailed to carry up ammunition during the Somme battle to positions occupied by the machine gun company. During that time shell fire was being hurled at the detachment by the enemy, and casualties were the result. He was struck in the left side just under the arm and died instantly, being buried later by his comrades. I know how inadequate, in these unfortunate times, mere words are, but I believe some consolation will be found in the fact that your cousin did not suffer, and that in the midst of action destiny shaped its course, he making the supreme sacrifice."

Pte Ormrod, who formerly resided in Pendlebury-rd, Swinton, left the district for New Zealand about three years ago. He joined the Colonial contingent soon after the outbreak of war, and was sent to Gallipoli, where he took part in much of the fighting, and was slightly wounded. After leaving the peninsula he was drafted to France. He was formerly connected with the Christ Church Day and Sunday School, Pendlebury, where many of his old friends will regret to hear of his death. He was 22 years of age."