Name
Ernest Frederick Fincher
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Serjeant Major
2256
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 10 A and 10 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials, Tablet, Caterham School, WW1, Caterham, Surrey
Pre War
Ernest Frederick Fincher was born in Tring in 1890 to Frederick William Fincher, plumber and seedman, and Anna Maria (nee Gower).
on the 1891 Census the family of parents, Minnie (born 1878), Frances (born 1880), Agnes (born 1885), Ethel (born 1889) and Ernest were living at 86, Akeman Street, Tring.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ellen (pupil teacher, born 1883), Agnes (achool monitor), Ethel, Ernest and Freda (born 1898) were living at Bessingby, Caterham, Surrey. Father Frederick was now a house painter.
On the 1911 Census Ernest was a schoolteacher, as was Ellen and Agnes and they were living with their parents and Ethel, Freda and Margaret Bush, granddaughter (born 1908) at 73, Addison Street, Caterham.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Ernest. He joined the 1st/4th Battalion as Private 2256 in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. The Battalion was a Territorial formation and was part of South Midland Brigade in South Midland Division, They went to France in Mar 1915 and were embodied in 145 Brigade 48th (South Midland) Division on 15 May 1915.
In 1916 the division was detailed for the Battles of the Somme at Albert(1-13 Jul), Bazentin 14-18 Jul). He was reported killed in action on 19 Jul 1919 during this last battle, His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Ernest rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Mayor during his service.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £16 was paid to father and arrears of £7 4s 2d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
