32613 Sergeant Ernest Matthew Beleksy, 2/7/1895-26/2/1923.

Ernest Belesky was initially refused enlistment due to dental problems but was called up with 27 others with similar issues in June 1916. He and other Dunedin men of the 19th Reinforcements were farewelled the next month.

Ernest was with the Otago Infantry Regiment in the confused early months of 1918, the time of the German Spring Offensive, which almost won them the war.  Part of the cost of holding the Germans back was the broken spine of Sergeant Ernest Belesky.  His Army record has the ominous words "wounded buried."  Presumably his injury was due to a shell caving in a trench or dugout.

BACK FROM THE WAR

ARRIVAL OF INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

A hospital ship conveying 88 soldier patients, including three cot cases, was berthed at Port Chalmers at 6.30 a.m. yesterday.

Colonel Falconer, Major Hickey, Captain Dobson, and Lieutenant Williams were present at the disembarkation. The returned soldiers proceeded to Dunedin by the 7.9 a.m. train, the local men were carried to their homes in cars provided by the Otago Motor Club, and the others left for their respective homes by the north and south trains.

The cot cases, which arrived in Dunedin by the 11.30 a.m. train, are as follow: —

Captain D. J. Walls, of Mosgiel, a Main Body man, who is suffering from extensive gunshot wounds. Sergeant E. M. Belesky, Dunedin, 19th Reinforcements, was wounded in the spine, and has not yet recovered the use of his legs.

Private T. Spire, Dunedin, also of the 19th Reinforcements, suffering from a badly fractured thigh. Colonel Collins had charge of the soldiers and Captain Dunbar-Sloan was ship's adjutant.

On the trip the base records work was done by the ship's staff, this innovation accelerating disembarkation, which was completed at Port Chalmers yesterday in a quarter of an hour. A number of the men comprising the draft have won military decorations. The hospital ship was inspected yesterday morning by the Governor-General.  -Otago Daily Times, 26/9/1918.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

DEATH.

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

BELESKY. — On February 26th, at his residence, Selwyn street, North-east Valley, Sergeant Ernest St. Belesky, No. 32613, second son of Mrs E. Belesky, aged 25 years. R.I.P. — The Funeral will leave the residence To-morrow (Wednesday), the 28th inst., at 2 p.m., for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. — Hope and Kinaston, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 27/2/1923.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.