Ernest Albert Prout was born in Kingston, VIC and was a Clerk by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 8th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement on 17 April 1915 at the age of 33. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 17 June 1915 and reached Gallipoli on August 6th, just as the August Offensive was gaining ferocity. Just two weeks later, on August 20th, he was wounded in action. He sustained a shrapnel wound to his right shin and was evacuated to Mudros, then to Malta and on to King George's Hospital, London. From here it was decided he should return to Australia and he sailed on the Ascanius, disembarking at Melbourne on April 30th 1916. He was discharged in July as æmedically unfit – mitral incompetence (cardiac disorder) and GSW leg'.
Tree No. 469