Ernest John Isadore Shields ANZAC (1893 - 1966)

Ancestors

Died 23 Nov 1966 at about age 73 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Ernie was born in NSW in 1893. He is the son of Robert John Victor 'Bob' Shields and Annie Kindlen^[1]

He married Annie Gina Francis Geise in 1924 in Victoria^[2]

He passed away in 1966 in Victoria^[3]

Oral History

Ernie Shields - Eric's uncle, is a bit of a grey area. He worked at a property out of Mulwala as a station hand ("Mia Mia"). The first Eric knew of him was that he was in world War I - He Joined up about the same time as Alex. Nellie has a postcard from Ernie to her, when he was at the military hospital at Caulfield, recuperating, and not allowed country leave.

Ernie was a very quiet man. During the war, Eric came up from Flinders to meet the relations in Melbourne. In 1942 he came to meet Nellie. She said, "You'd better see Ernie, he's at the West Brunzwick Police Station. There was no Ernie, but they had an "Izzie" Shields. I met him eventually. "Hello". That was about it. Nothing further. His wife Annie was an old bugger.

Ernie went to France in 1916, and was there at war's end.

Ernest John Isadore - became a policeman. He went to World War I. Alex returned in 1916, and Ernie went in 1916. He joined the police force in 1923, the year of the police strike. He was a bit old to get in, but being a returned soldier they were allowing them in. Nicholson was Commissioner of Police at the time. His sister and her husband had a little hotel in Albury which Dad used to go to, and met Nick there. Father was crooked on him for being a strike-breaker, but that didn't matter to Ernie [gave a wicked chuckle], he was going to get a permanent job. [Ernie was 30 when he joined the police force].

Ernie was born in May 1891. He died on 23 November 1966.[ie. at 75]. He had a stroke. It was Derby Day. His wife rang me up. They lived at West Brunzwick - they were there from the time they were married. He married soon after he joined the police force. She was a Melbourne girl. She worked in a factory - in a shoe factory. We didn't know her .They had no children.

Ernie lived in Victoria St. West Brunzwick, near the police station, not far from Victoria Rd. I met them - I was taken there on holidays.

He was friendly with the Davidsons and visited them. But Ernie's wife had a happy knack of rowing with everyone. They used to take Stewart over, [Stewart was Alex's son, his eldest child, born in 1891, and was crippled with arthritis] pushing his chair to Ernie's. Gwyneth would do this. [Gwyneth was his niece, daughter of Amy Shields and Bill Hocking] They [ie, Alex's family] lived on the corner of Stewart and Carnarvon St. East Brunzwick, for years. Gwyneth died young. When Ernie died, Amy and Bill and Bruce [ie. Bruce Hocking, Alex's grandson] came to the funeral parlour. It was only four months after Gwyneth had died. Stewart was a nice chap. Amy was marvellous, looked after him for years - he wasn't able to move.

Garveys had a little girl the dead spit of Vic's girl Jean -blue eyes, round face. The older Garvey girl worked as a dental nurse.

Ernie married a stinker. But her cousin and I were great friends. But she had a horrible nature, and as mean as mean as mean. When Ernie died she rang at 6.00 am - I got a taxi over. She sent for me and sent for the undertaker and said there was just going to be a quiet little funeral. I said no -he was a soldier and a policeman and belonged to both clubs, and all his friends are to get a chance to farewell him.. We had a proper funeral. He was cremated. It was a good funeral.

Sources

1. ↑ Ernest J I Shields Birth Date: 1893 Birth Place: New South Wales Registration Year: 1893 Registration Place: Jerilderie, New South Wales, Australia Father: Robert J V Shields Mother: Annie Registration Number: 17976 Source Information Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line].
2. ↑ Ernt Jno Isadore Shields [Ernest Jno Isadore Shields] Gender: Male Marriage Registration Year: 1924 Marriage Registration Place: Victoria, Australia Spouse: Annie Gina Francis Giese Reference Number: 9040 Source Citation The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victoria, Australia, Marriage Records. Source Information Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950 [database on-line].
3. ↑ Ernest John Shields Birth Year: abt 1893 Age: 73 Death Place: Park, Victoria Father's Name: Robert Mother's Name: Annie Kindlen Registration Year: 1966 Registration Place: Victoria Registration Number: 27452 Source Information Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line].