Ernest Hynson Anstee (b 1887)

by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.

See ‘Anstey: A Complete History From the Norman Invasion to World War One‘ for much more on the Majorca Anstees of Victoria. In addition to biographies of various Anstey individuals who make up this sub-branch, the book contains a plethora of Anstey research and statistics, including an analysis of how the Majorca Anstees of Victoria fit into the pedigree descendent from Hubert de Anesti, the 12th century originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.

MJ 14. Ernest Hynson Anstee: Known as ‘Ern’, he was born in 1887 in Maryborough near Majorca, Victoria to parents George Anstee (MJ 5) and Frances Catherine Hynson. He grew up in Victoria and was still living there in c1910. He then married Ada Hawkeswood (1890-1978) in 1910 in Victoria – we find no children of this marriage.

Just under a year after the commencement of World War One, on 2 July 1915 in Melbourne, he volunteered for active service. On his Attestation Paper he stated that he was a “natural born British Subject“, current occupation “labourer“, living at 52 Eastern Road, South Melbourne. The paper also reported that he had previously served “3 months A.E.F. 2 Comp Depot” from 23 February 1915 to 8 June 1915, but that he had been rejected as unfit for service in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces (A. I. E. F.) due to bronchitis.

He was at the ‘Depot’ from 7 July 1915 to 19 July 1915, then he was assigned to the 9th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion as a Private (Service Number: 2777) on 19 July 1915. He embarked on 15 September 1915 at Melbourne on the ship ‘SS Makarini‘, however on 23 October 1915, almost immediately after their arrival at Heliopolis near Cairo in Egypt, he was admitted to the Nbr 2 Auxilliary Hospital in Heliopolis, then discharged to duty two days later. He was then readmitted to the Nbr 1 Auxilliary Hospital at Luns Park in Heliopolis with “bronchitis” on 13 November 1915.

A month later on 13 Dec 1915, he was “invalided to Australia” due to “chronic bronchitis“, embarking on the HMT ‘Wandilla‘ ship at Suez. He was discharged completely from service on 6 July 1916. In 1922 he received the ‘Victory Medal’. By 1939 he was a “watchman” living in Yarra, Victoria at 9 Leslie Street with his wife and May Hynson Anstee (we are somewhat flummoxed as to who this is).

He died on 8 May 1945 at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, survived by his widow Ada. He is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne, where a plaque on the grave states “2777 PRIVATE E. H. ANSTEE 8 BATTALION 8 – 5 – 1945“.

Anybody who would like to add anything to this biography, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.