Military History

Ernest died of suspected dysentery in the German Field hospital at Czersk Prisoner of War Camp in what is now Poland (Red Cross record) he was originally reported missing on 21 Mar 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion war diary for the 21 Mar 1918 is transcribed below and shows that they were taken completely by surprise and took 750+ casualties including over 500 missing.

Ronnsoy - 21 March 1918:

The German attack was launched at dawn in the thick fog. The enemy's bombardment was very heavy. Battalion headquarters in the centre of Ronnsoy had no knowledge of the attack until the enemy was a problem. They had come in from the right flank of the battalion. Battalion headquarters fought their way out suffering heavy heavy casualties. Lt Col Walker what wounded, the a/2^nd in Command Major Pan DSO was captured. The Adjutant Captain Robbins is missing, the signalling officer 2/Lt W A Wilkinson was killed, the intelligence officer Lt J R Moseley MC was subsequently wounded in the fighting that followed. No company officers came out of the battle consequently it is impossible to form a connected narrative of what happened. The remnants of the Battalion fell back and took up a position in the brown line at St. Emilie, after some severe fighting the Battalion was ordered to fall back and the remains of the Brigade were formed into the 49th Infantry Brigade under major Harrison of the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment.

This battalion subsequently fought a rearguard action back to Hamel in front of Amiens, which village it held against repeated attacks. The battalion came out of the action with the following officers the Medical Officer, CVapt Alley MC, Capt Reid MC and 2/Lt J J Nulty who returned from leave on the 22^nd March.

Casualties:                  Off             OR

Killed                             3               13
Died of Wounds              1                7
Prisoners                       8               13
Wounded                       4              200
Missing                         2              500
                                   18             733