Name
Ernest George Fitt
2 Feb 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
14885
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
Plot I, Row B, Grave 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
HIS BANNER OVER ME WAS LOVE
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Shenley Village Memorial, Ayot St Peter Memorial, Roll of Honour, St Peter's Church, Ayot St Peter, Not on the Hertingfordbury memorial
Pre War
Ernest George Fitt was born on 2 February 1891 in Hertingfordbury, Herts, the son of Joseph and Ann Fitt (nee Pring) and baptised on 2 August 1891 at St Mary’s, Hertingfordbury.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 months he was living in Birchall, Hertingfordbury, with his parents and four siblings. His father, who had been born in Welwyn, was working as a Head Gardener.
By 1901 the family had moved to Reigate, Surrey, and his father was working as a Gardener Domestic. He possibly attended Luppitt National School, Devon, from 3 March 1901 to 5 February 1904. Luppitt is close to Awliscombe where his parents were married.
On the 1911 Census, Ernest was living and working at Danesbury, Welwyn, Herts, and his occupation was given as domestic gardener. He later became a carnation grower employed by Mr C F Raphel of Porters Park, Shenley.
For several years he was a prominent football player for Welwyn Football Club.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 5 September 1914 in Hertford and served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 26 July 1915.
He was killed in action on 30 September 1915, aged 24, during manoeuvres at Morlancourt and is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.
Additional Information
His father, Mr Joseph Fitt of The Frythe Gardens, Welwyn, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: "HIS BANNER OVER ME WAS LOVE". He died on 6 February 1939 in Ayot St Peter, Herts, aged 81, and his mother Ann died 16 April 1939 in Ayot St Peter aged 81. Both are buried in Ayot St Peter churchyard. His father Joseph Fitt was Head Gardener at The Frythe, Welwyn, Herts and later lived at West Lodge, Ayot St Peter.
A war gratuity of £4 10s was granted to his father as well as pay owing of £8 2s 4d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Taff Williams
www.ayotstpeter.com, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
