BIO

Following in the footsteps of his brother George Beames (Norwood backman 1911 to 1920), Ernest Beames enlisted in 1915 at the age of 24, and spent the war years serving in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Egypt and France until 1919. 
Ernest was a member of the Combined Training Units team captained by Charles Perry (Norwood ruckman and defender 1909 to 1920) in the AIF exhibition match played in London in 1916.

Both his and his brother George’s careers were seriously impacted by the war.  It was reported in one of the daily newspapers in May 1915 that “The Norwoods (sic) have lost several good men who heard their King and country …, and the flower of their team are now playing with ball cartridge instead of the inflated sphere”.

Ernest was a powerfully built man who played in ruck, resting as a forward and as a useful defender.

At the Norwood Football Club Annual General Meeting in February 1914 he won Best Junior and Most Improved awards. 

He played 30 games for Norwood, his last in July 1920 as a replacement for the injured Charlie Perry and was awarded Life Membership of the club.



Ernest Beames died in 1976.

R Crompton Mar 2014, revised Sept 2017