Ernest Arnold Grant

Name

Ernest Arnold Grant
1895

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

21/03/1917
21

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Private
62200
Royal Fusiliers *1
4th (City of London) Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

Not Yet Researched

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS
II. J. 7.
France

Headstone Inscription

Thy will be done

UK & Other Memorials

Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin

Pre War

Ernest was born in 1895 in Hitchin and his parents were Frederick and Amelia Grant. 

In 1901 the family were living at 2 Queens Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Frederick (34) and Amelia (35), with Frederick and working as a house painter and decorator. Their children were: Bertram (9), Leonard (7), Ernest (5) and Walter (3).

By 1911 the family were living at Hard Lane, Storehouse, Hitchin, Herts. Present were both parents, Frederick still working as a house decorator, although late he was reported to be plumbing as well. The census recorded they had been married for 20 years with 5 children, all living. All the children listed above were present, with Ernest now 15 and working in the boot trade. 

Before enlisting Ernest had worked in the Hitchin shoe-shop of Freeman, Hardy & Willis. Leonard Percy Grant and the fourth son, Don, were in the Fire Service in Hitchin, which included service during the Second World War. The family attended the Bethel Chapel in Queen St. Hitchin.

A letter was received by his parents from Second Lieutenant  S R Hudson, it read: “I deeply regret having to inform you that your son, Private E. A. Grant, was killed in action on March 21. He was buried the following day by the Battalion Chaplain, and as soon as possible you will be told of the position of his grave. During the short time he was with us, your son was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his death is a very great loss to”X” Company.”

Officially Ernest was recorded as living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Chelsea.

Wartime Service

He joined up with his elder brother, Bertram F. Grant, into the 3/1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex Huzzars) in November 1915. Bertram with the Regimental Number 4600. For six months they were stationed in Ireland at the Curragh, during which time the unit was dismounted. 

In December 1916 the brothers went to France and were transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, but in different Companies, though they were able to see each other most days. His Regimental Number in the Royal Fusiliers was G/62200. The Battalion was part of the 9th Brigade in the 3rd Division of VI Corps in the 3rd Army.

At the time of his death, the Battalion had been fighting in the region of the River Ancre and had recently moved to a position immediately south of Arras where they were about to take part in the First Battle of the Scarpe. Bert wrote home that Ernie had been killed by a shell and that his death was instantaneous but had saved his watch.

Second Lieut. S R Hudson from Ernest's company wrote: "I deeply regret having to inform you that your son Private E A Grant, was killed in action on March 21. He was buried the following day by the Battalion  Chaplain, and as soon as possible you will be told the position of his grave. During the short time he was with us, your son was loved and respected by all that new him, and his death is a very great loss to "X" Company.

He was buried the next day, and his grave is in Plot 2, Row J, Grave 7 in the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery in Arras in France. 

Additional Information

After his death £3 2s 10d was authorised to go to his father on 12 July 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £5 10s was authorised to be paid to him/her, on 15 October 1919.

Ernest’s brother Walter served in France with the Royal Engineers Signal Service and, at the time of Ernest's death Leonard was stationed at Bearton Camp, Hitchin. Leonard died of Spanish Flu in 1918.

A private inscription on the headstone reads "Thy will be done". Ernest is also commemorated on a headstone is Hitchin Cemetery. His inscription reads:

*1 More correctly London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).

Acknowledgments

Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild