Name
Ernest White
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/06/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7230
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY
II. L. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
"HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town War Memorial, St Clements Church Memorial Turnford
Pre War
Ernest White was born Abt. 1888, in Turnford, Hertfordshire, son of Hannah/Annie White, a Dressmaker.
1891 Census records Ernest aged 3 living with his mother, sister Ellen (Nellie) (9), in High Street, Turnford, Herts. The had a lodger Henry Robert Burton, a Gardener.
Hannah married Henry Robert Burton on 9th April 1892, in Cheshunt, Herts. They went on the have two son’s Henry born in 1896 and John born in 1900, both born in Turnford.
1901 Census, Ernest (13), has left school and is working at a Market Garden Nursery, living with his mother, stepfather Henry Burton and half-brothers, Henry (5) and John (1) at, 1 Brook Cottages, High Road, Turnford, Herts.
In April 1907, Ernest enlisted at Hertford, in the Bedfordshire Militia and issued with the service number 5840.
1911 Census, Ernest (23) is still working at the Garden Nurseries, living with his mother stepfather Henry and half-brothers Henry (15) and John (11) at, 1 Brook Cottages, Turnford, Herts.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, we believe Ernest was still serving with the Militia or the Territorial Force and volunteered for overseas service, issued with the service number 4/7230, he arrived in France on 11th November 1914, seeing action on the Western Front, he was Killed in Action on 21st June 1916 aged 29.
The newspaper reporting his death reported him to be the son of Mrs Burton, 5 Brook Cottages, Turnford. A letter was received from Sergeant Taylor, of the deceased's company, that he suffered no pain being killed instantly at about 10:00 at night. The Sergeant added “He was a fine specimen of a British soldier, doing his duty, always merry and bright, with a pleasant word for everybody. In short he was a soldier and a man, and died a true soldiers death, and all the platoon join with me in expressing sympathy with you in your great loss,”
He is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery in France. Grave Ref; II. 4. 4.
Additional Information
His effects of £9-4s-9d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £8, went to his mother Hannah Burton.
His Headstone inscription “HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE” was requested by Mrs. H. Burton, of 5 Brook Cottages, Turnford, Broxbourne, Herts. (His Mother).
His Militia Service record has survived and is available on-line.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
