Name
Ernest John Wells
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/04/1919
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
166043
Royal Engineers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot F, Row 2, Grave 459A.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of John and the late Sarah (nee MILLS) WELLS; husband of Amy (nee WARWICK) WELLS.
His parents married 1 June 1873 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Sarah died 1911 in Watford aged 60, and was buried 31 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery; John died 1934 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 31 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ernest was born 5 February 1895 in Watford, and baptised 3 April 1895 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 8 January 1907 to 5 February 1909. He married 12 February 1917 at St Andrew’s, Watford, and was buried 10 April. Amy remarried 1923 in the Watford district to William George ROSE. He died 24 September 1941 in Garston, Herts,aged 67; Amy died 1983 in the Colchester, Essex, district aged 86.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a painter’s apprentice aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.
He originally enlisted 14 January 1911 in the Hertfordshire Regiment, Private 1597: a painter and decorator aged 17 of Watford.
Wartime Service
He was transferred to the Royal Engineers Signals Section 16 January 1915, Corporal T/1844. He was discharged 13 January 1916 at Thetford in consequence of having terminated his period service: aged 22, 5’6″ tall, of Watford.
He re-enlisted 2 March 1916 for the Duration of the War, and was called up 29 November 1916 at Watford: a telephone and telegraph mechanic, 5’6″ tall, C of E, aged 21 of Watford; his next-of-kin his father of Watford. He embarked from Devonport 29 April 1917, disembarking Dar Es Salaam 18 June 1917, and taken on the strength of the Imperial Signal Coy. He was posted to L of C Signal Coy 25 June 1917. He was admitted to 19 Sty Hospital, Kilwa, 11 July 1917 suffering from malaria, and discharged 17 July; was admitted to B4 S A Ambulance, Kerongo, 9 August 1917, transferred to 19 Sty Hospital, Kilwa, 11 August; transferred to Hospital Ship Ebani to the S A G Hospital Dar es Salaam 19 August, and finally to 15 Sty Hospital, Morogoro, from where he was finally discharged 11 September 1917. He was admitted to 15 Sty Hospital, Dar es Salaam 19 April 1918, this time suffering from measles, and to the Conv Depot Domoma with phlebotomous fever 5 May 1918. He was raised to Skilled Permanent Lineman 17 October 1918, and embarked per Hospital Ship Field Marshal on duty as escort to Germans repatriated 17 January 1919, and then to be transferred to Home establishment.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died in Watford of influenzal bronchial pneumonia. He does not appear to have an entry inSoldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 April 1919.
Ernest's grave (not CWGC) is a family grave, he has a headstone erected by his wife (Amy) bears the inscription:
IN Sacred Memory Of MY DEAR HUSBAND
ERNEST JOHN WELLS. R.E ANSWERED HIS CALL APRIL 6. 1914 AGE 24 YEARS.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
