Next of Kin plaque: Private Ernest Elmer Reynolds, 27th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'ERNEST ELMER REYNOLDS'.

Born in Moonta, South Australia, Ernest Elmer 'Ern' Reynolds was employed as a mining mill hand at nearby Kadina when he enlisted in the AIF on 11 December 1915. After basic training he was posted as a private, service number 4195, to the 10th Reinforcements to the 27th Battalion. His unit left Adelaide aboard RMS Mongolia in March 1916. After training in Egypt Reynolds embarked for service on the Western Front in May 1916, and finally joined his battalion in France on 11 August.

Reynolds survived the battle of Flers in November but was killed on 2 March 1917 in an action that successfully captured Malt Trench near Warlencourt. He was 25 years old. The 27th Battalion lost 22 men killed as well as 95 wounded in the action. Reynolds was buried near Warlencourt beside 2219 Private Horace Fordham Pottinger, and a cross erected over the grave (see photograph J00013). However, the grave could not be located after the war and both men are commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.

This memorial plaque was sent to Reynolds' mother, Lily, in July 1922.