Born in Ballarat, Ernest William Jolly was a single 23 year old railway clerk at the time of his enlistment in Melbourne, Victoria on the 12th of July 1915. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on the 27th of September 1915.
On the 1st of February 1916 he was promoted to Corporal.
On the 26th of August 1916, Ernest was reported as a prisoner of war, having been captured at Mouquet Farm. He arrived in England on the 17th of December 1918 and was repatriated.
Ernest was married whilst abroad in London on the 23rd of August 1919 to Theresa Kelly.
He returned to Australia on the 6th of December 1919 and was discharged on the 7th of March 1920.

His brother Henry also served in the AIF and is honoured with the neighbouring tree in the Avenue.