Military History

Ernest was originally reported as having died and his family were informed of this , however he was later found to have been taken prisoner and he survived the war. Ernest died in July 1954 in Birmingham aged 65 [GRO Ref: Vol 9c Page 478]. It appears that as he no longer lived in Stratford his name was added to the Memorial Addendum Plaque by mistake, most likely because of the newspaper report.

Ernest was captured on 30 July 1915, after being wounded in action, (see newspaper report) near Hooge and we believe he was then held as a Prisoner at Coutrai and later in Switzerland (see records 5 & 6 below). On 24 Mar 1918 was Ernest was Repatriated from Switzerland and was discharged from the Army on 7 May 1918 and given Silver Badge number 398 750. He died in 1954 aged 65 in Birmingham.

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Stratford Herald - Friday 27th August 1915
ERNEST REASON KILLED AT FRONT

Mr. George Reason late of Mansell Street, Stratford-on-Avon, has received a letter from the front announcing the death of his son, Ernest, of the 9th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, which occurred on the 30th July. Reason who was 26 years of age, enlisted on the 10th December [November - see Silver Badge record], and was in some of the fiercest fighting.