Ernest Austin Stanislaus Cody
June 21, 2015
CODY, Ernest Austin Stanislaus- – – SPC 1901-1903
DoB:– – c1892, Clifton Hill, VIC
Father:– – John Francis Cody
Mother:
The SPC Annual of 1916-1917 reported on the war service of several Old Boys, including that of Ernest Cody;
-‘-¦ Before enlisting, Ernest was employed in the Customs House Sydney. He was very popular in sporting circles, and had the honour of representing NSW in the last Interstate Regatta, which was decided in Melbourne in 1914. He also gained International honours in 1913, when he was chosen as a forward in the Australian Rugby Union Team, which ran a good second to the famous -‘All Black’ team of that year.
Ernest joined with the Field Artillery in Sydney, and in his last letter, addressed from Salisbury Plains, England, said that they were expecting a transfer across to France at an early date -¦’
Service No:– 19054
Rank:- – Private, later Lieutenant
Unit:- – 5th Field Artillery Brigade
Ernest Cody enlisted on 5 January 1916 at 24 years of age. He was a tall man at six feet and three quarter inches in height, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He was appointed to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade as a Gunner.
He left Australia on 11 May 1916 on the Argyllshire, travelling to Southampton, England. After receiving further training in England, he proceeded with his unit to France on 29 December 1916.
In August 1917, he was selected to join the Artillery Cadet School at St John’s Wood, and -‘to be borne supernumeracy to establishment of 7th Australian FAB’. He was transferred from France back to the UK to attend this Cadet School, where he remained until March 1918. In March he proceeded to Rouelle, France, and by June was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
In January 1919 he returned to England and was -‘struck off strength’ so he could be available for -‘duty with the football team’. By May 1919, he was aboard the Orontes returning to Australia, where he disembarked at Sydney. His appointment with the AIF was terminated on 19 August 1919.
Ernest settled in Sydney and married Lucy Florence Fahey in Chatswood in 1928. They spent their entire married lives at 24 Killara Avenue, Gladesville (later known as Parramatta). Lucy died in 1962, and Ernest died in 1969 aged 77 years. He would likely have been buried with Lucy in Sydney, but the College could not locate the name of the cemetery.