Name
Ernest Eaton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/08/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
29781
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MARLOW CEMETERY
C. C. 31.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
ABIDE WITH ME
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury, Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Ernest Eaton was born in Acton, London in 1886 to George Eaton and Agnes (nee Young).
The 1891 Census recorded Ernest, aged 4, living in Acton, West London with his parents.
In 1901 he was living at Dewshaws Farm, Burnham, Bucks working on a farm with his family of parents, Frank Arthur, Edith, and Ada Hesley (servant, born 1888).
On 28 Sep 1910 he married Edith Frances Evans in Llansantffraid,near Llangollen, North Wales.
On the 1911 Census Ernest ( a gamekeeper) and Edith were living at 3, Brickkiln Cottages, Aldbury, Tring. His parents with Arthur and Edith were living at High Ruses, Marlow, Bucks. Ther would be children – Frederick Stanley (born 2 May 1915), Gwendoline Edith (born 21 Nov 1913) and Frank Sydney (born 24 Jul 1915).
1911 Census. He and Edith were living at 3 Brickkiln Cottages, Aldbury and he was working as a Gamekeeper.
He was working at Pendley Manor, Aldbury at the time of his enlistment.
Wartime Service
Ernest probably enlisted in early 1916 as Private 29781 in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment which was converted to War Service and went to France on 25 Jun 1915 landing at Le Havre to become part of 190 Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. They were in action on the Somme at the Battle of Ancre (13-18 Nov 1916) and subsequent action in that area until moved to the Arras sector in 1917 for the Battle of 2nd Scarpe (23-24 Apr), Ernest was wounded in this last action.
South Bucks Free Press of 11th May 1917 reported that Ernest had been wounded in right knee and was in No.4 General Hospital in France (Camiers).
On 10th August 1917 the same newspaper reports the funeral of Ernest. He had been badly wounded on 23rd April 1917 whilst acting as a stretcher bearer during the Battle of Arras . He was transferred to Wharncliffe Hospital in Sheffield. Six weeks after it was necessary to amputate his right leg above the knee but he suffered a sudden relapse. He left a widow and three children.
He was buried at Marlow with full Military Honours by the East Anglian Royal Engineers.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £4 10s and arrears of £4 17s 0d was paid to his widow..
Acknowledgments
Jo Bayley, Neil Cooper
Jo Bayley
