1914-15 Star Trio
- Name: Ernest Robert Beard
- Service No: 1405
- Unit: HMAS Fantome
- Naming Details:
- 1914-15 Star impressed - O.N 1405 E.R. BEARD. AB.
- British War and Victory Medals impressed - 1405 E.R. BEARD LDG. SMN. R.A.N.
- Notes: Includes scarce RAN Identity Discs and photo of recipient in uniform.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
Ernest Beard was born on the 20th of June 1894 in Sydney, New South Wales. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on the 1st of July 1911, for a seven-year engagement. Ernest was allocated Official Number 1405 and joined HMAS Gayundah as an Ordinary Seaman.
In January 1914 Ernest joined HMAS Protector and in August the same year returned to the Gayundah. Following a short stint at HMAS Penguin, Ernest saw active service on HMAS Fantome from the 27th of July 1915 until the 16th of October 1917.
During 1915 HMAS Fantome was assigned to Blockade Patrol Service in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 1916 she was involved in patrols east of Singapore, based at Sandakan in Borneo. She returned to Sydney in September 1917 after two years patrolling in tropical waters under trying conditions. Ernest joined HMAS Encounter in January 1918, where he served until, he discharged from the Navy on the 18th of March 1919.
On the 4th of October 1919 he married Margaret McQuaid in Brisbane. Post war he ran a Second-Hand store in the Valley, which caught fire and was severely damaged in 1933. Ernest and his family were lucky to escape the fire which caused an estimated 21,000 pounds damage.
He died in Brisbane on the 19th of May 1978.
Notes:
1914-15 Star impressed O.N 1405 E.R. BEARD. AB. British War and Victory Medals impressed 1405 E.R. BEARD LDG. SMN. R.A.N.
Included in the listing is his official WW1 Navy identity discs, impressed with his Official Number and details. Also a period photo of Ernest in his uniform taken during his time on the Gayundah.