A Brisbane soldier who was not properly recognised for his service after his body was found floating in a river almost 102 years ago could receive justice this month.
In August 1919, police discovered a body in the Bremer River at Riverview, west of Brisbane, that would later be identified as Private Ernest William Weeks, who served as part of the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment.
Private Weeks enlisted for World War I in December 1914 at the age of 22 before serving at Gallipoli and Palestine, including three attacks on Gaza.
This month justice may finally be served to Private Weeks, whose name was never placed on the Roll of Honour, despite still being enlisted on army records when he drowned.
Private Weeks was just one of many soldiers over recent years who have been found to have “fallen through the cracks”, with the Australian War Memorial last year approving the addition of several members of the military to the roll.
Ernest William Weeks, who went missing 11 days after arriving back in the country from WWI. Credit:Helen Smith, Dragon Genealogy, HVS research
Brisbane’s History Out There historian Harold Peacock researched Private Weeks – who was found by constables John Green of Booval and John Smith of Redbank – and has been searching for his descendants across Brisbane.
Private Weeks arrived home to Brisbane on August 3, 1919, and went missing 11 days later, before his body was found on August 30, Peacock said.
Friends reported their concerns for Private Weeks, who had left his family home at Albert Park (now Roma St Parklands) in Brisbane’s CBD wearing his uniform and a military overcoat.
However, Peacock said his army records show he was only discharged from the army on October 4 – more than a month after he drowned.
