Private Ernest Cameron

Private Ernest Clark Cameron, 21st Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was killed in action in France, aged 35, on the 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Galashiels and was the adopted son of the late John and Barbara Cameron formerly of Halliburton Place, Galashiels and the husband of Margaret Cameron of North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. whom he had married in Galashiels in 1905.He was a cloth manufacturer when he enlisted in Melbourne in Juky 1915, landing in France in March 1916. After nearly a year at the Base Depot he joined his Battalion in February 1917. He is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France. ( This is the Australian national Memorial). He fell during the second battle at Bullecourt in the attempt to breach the Hindenburg defences. After much fierce fighting the Germans finally withdrew. This cost the 3 Australian Divisions taking part 7,000 casualties.