Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

14/11/1915

Place of Enlistment

Goulburn NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

12/10/1895

Place of Birth

Queanbeyan NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Sutton Road, Reedy Creek ACT

Occupation

Blacksmith

Next of Kin

George Roffe (father), Reedy Creek ACT

Burial Place

Heilly Station Cemetery, France

Service Number

5759

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

1 Battalion AIF

Died of wounds on 12 January 1917, France

World War 1 Memorial, corner of Lowe St and Farrer Place, Queanbeyan NSW
Queanbeyan RSL Wall of Remembrance, Crawford St, Queanbeyan NSW
Queanbeyan Methodist Church Roll of Honour

Ernie Roffe was the younger brother of Bertie Roffe, a blacksmith and a member of the local rifle club. He embarked from Sydney in June 1916 but was admitted to hospital with a hernia when he arrived in England in August 1916. Upon release he joined the 1st Battalion in December 1916 in the trenches near Gueudecourt, north of Flers. On 3 January 1917 he was wounded in action, receiving a gun shot wound to the left buttock. He was admitted to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station but died from his wounds on 12 January 1917. Roffe was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, 2½ miles NNE of Corbie. An eyewitness said that Roffe "was wounded in the lower part of the body at Guedecourt while in supports. I saw three or four bullet wounds from M.G. fire". Another eyewitness said that it was Roffe's first visit to the front line.

Description - height 5 feet 8 inches, weight 125 pounds, chest 33 inches, dark complexion, hazel eyes, light brown hair, Methodist, scar on the top left index finger.

Rex Cross, 'Bygone Queanbeyan', 1980
Our Queanbeyan 'Boys' No.2, Howard & Shearsby, Yass (postcard)
AWM Roll of Honour Circular
AWM Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Files
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)