Military History

Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 23rd August 1915. The 6th Battalion war diary entries for the period 22nd to 24th August are transcribed below and show that Ernest was killed by a sniper.

Bray – 22 Aug 1915: The Battalion took over trenches Sector D opposite Mametz at a spot 3 miles N of Bray from 2nd Batt. West Riding Regt. A Battalion of 54th Brigade was on our Left and a Battn of 53^rd Brigade on our right. The leading Coy was in by 9:30 p.m. – and the other Coys relieved their opposite numbers in rotation – the whole relief being accomplished by 2:30am [23^rd] with no casualties. Troops opposed to us are Bavarians.

Bray – 23 Aug 1915: At about 7.30am Ptes Wenman & Morrell of B Coy were killed by a sniper opposite a mining area. Pte Griffiths D Coy was wounded about 12:30 – and L/Cpl Matthews A Coy was sniped about 6:30 p.m. The Troops opposing us are Bavarians and would appear to have some good snipers. The big guns on pretty active throughout the day & at night.

At 9:30 a.m. they (The Germans) fired some 30 shells by our cook-houses with no result. The trench is not very good yet but should be excellent with certain improvements.

Ptes Wenman & Morrell were buried this afternoon. T? were constantly over our trenches & Bray was shelled yesterday & today.

Bray - 24 Aug 1915: A good deal of rifle-firing and M.G. fire went on during the night. Some aerial torpedoes were fired into a communicating trench but did no damage. A "sausage" burst close to the Officers' Mess H.Q. doing no damage – whilst two more fell on the second line parapet behind the left of the line doing some slight damage which is being repaired now. Pte Carter of A Coy was very slightly wounded in the nose in early hours of the morning. The day has been very quiet – our big guns have fired some shots into the German lines.