Name
Ernest Albert Farmer
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
43078
Northamptonshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
Plot IV, Row F, Grave 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Paul's Church Memorial, Bushey, Not on the Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Born on 10th February 1886 in Symonds Hyde, Hatfield, and baptised 6 May 1888 at St Leonard’s, Sandridge, Herts.
Ernest was the son of Joseph and Emma Meadows (née Sparks) Farmer.
His parents were married in the Hatfield registration district in the last quarter of 1877. Ernest was one of eleven children, of which only seven survived. Joseph died 1924 in Bushey, Herts, aged 67, and was buried 29 February at St James’, Bushey; Emma died 1937 in Watford aged 80, and was buried 27 December, also at St James.
Ernest attended Hatfield Church of England School from 28 September to 16 November 1891, and again from 11 January 1892 to 17 July 1893.
At the 1891 Census, Ernest was aged five with four siblings and the family lived in Coopers Green, Herts. The family still lived in Coopers Green at the 1901 Census, with Ernest now aged 15 and four siblings. He attended Hatfield Church of England School between September and November 1891, and again from between January 1892 and July 1893.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Bushey Hall Farm Cottages in Bushey Mill Lane, Bushey and Ernest was living with his parents and one sibling. He was now aged 25 and employed as a shepherd.
Ernest joined the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment in 1905 as Private 26817 in the Militia. He was never married.
Wartime Service
When war broke out, Ernest enlisted in Watford and was formerly Private 26817 Bedfordshire Regiment. He bacame Private 43078 in the 6th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment. He served in France and Flanders and was killed in action on the 17th February 1917, aged 31 years.
Ernest is buried at Regina Trench, Grandcourt on the Somme and is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial, and at St James’, Bushey and St Paul’s, Bushey.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals
The Bushey Memorial, erected at Clay Hill, Bushey was brought from London by horse and cart driven by his brother-in-law Albert Rolls of Fernley Street, Watford.
There is an article about Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 21 April 1917.
Additional Information
There is an article about Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 21 April 1917. Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
