Military History

Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 8th October 1918. The following description of events is transcribed from the 9th Battalion Report on Operations 3rd to 11th October 1918 which is contained in the Battalion war diary.

7 Oct 1918: There was a conference held on the 7th at Bde H.Qrs details for the attack on the 8th were discussed.

8 Oct 1918: On the night of the 7/8th the Battn took over the frontage allotted to it, namely the Le Cateau Road on the Right to B 17 & 3 6 (eastern corner of Cemetery) on left. One Platoon of the right Coy was on Eastern side of Le Cateau Road overlapping with an American Battn. One section from the left Coy overlapped with the South Africans on our left.

The Battn was formed up with Nos 1 and 4 Coys in Front Line, Nos 2 and 3 Coys in Support 300 yards in rear. All Coys reported that they were in position by 0430.

At Zero minus 3 mins the leading Coys crept forward close under the barrage and as soon as barrage lifted advanced to the attack, prior to this hostile shelling and M.G.fire had been somewhat heavy, the enemy was using tracer bullets from his M.G's in addition hostile Aeroplanes dropped bombs on our troops just prior to the assault.

About 0530 wounded and prisoners began to appear, wounded reported the village of Ponchaux [taken?] and that we were advancing beyond the village.

At 0600 runner reported from No. 3 Coy that village had been taken and mopped up. Prisoners in large numbers now appeared. Battn H.Qrs then moved forward to catch up the advance, which they did at the Spur W of BRONX Farm.

At 0700 following message was sent to Bde. "D.N. 31 Front line 500 yds S.W. of Sonia Wood AAA Everything going well AAA Bn H.Qrs on Spur 200 yds N.W. Bronx Farm AAA". Advance continued with only slight opposition from M.G's which were successfully dealt with by Tanks.

At 0820 the following message was sent to Bde. "Am consolidating trench system running through Sonia Wood AAA am in touch on both flanks AAA Just been reported by a Sergt 20th that they are held up on right AAA They are about 700 yds S.E. of the Le Cateau Road and there are no Americans on their right"

At 0930 PUTU reported they were meeting with no opposition. The Battn that evening moved and took up a position along the line of the Railway U27 B 4 0 - U 27 B central - U 21 C 0 0. Orders were received that the Battn were to be prepared to continue the advance at 0530 next morning the 9th inst.

9 Oct 1918: At 0545 the Divisional Commander personally ordered the Battn to advance to a position near Western Edge of Buttry Wood. The Battn remained there that day and bivouaced in the wood the night 9/10th.

10 Oct 1918: The advance was continued next morning at 0530 the Battn together with 20th Manches ters supporting 75th Inf Bde.