Name
Ernest George Willmore (MC)
28 February 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1920
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Garrison Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GREAT BERKHAMSTED (ST. PETER) CHURCH CEMETERY
Row 8.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St. Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Ernest George Willmore was born on 28 February 1894 in Berkhamsted, Herts, the eldest of two sons born to George and Leah Willmore.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 4 Ravens Lane, Berkhamsted, where his father was working as an assistant brewer. By 1911 they had moved to Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted. Both Ernest and his brother were still at school.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School and in March 1912 won an open scholarship in Natural Sciences at Oxford University.
On 13 November 1915 he married Jessie Austin Cousins in Berkhamsted and lived at 12 Montague Road, Berkhamsted. Their daughter Jean was born in 1919.
Wartime Service
He joined the Officers Training Corps and on 10 April 1915 and after training was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
On 4 June 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross for 'an act of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy' (details unknown). At some point he was promoted to Lieutenant but on 13 July he was severely wounded in the head whilst lifting one of his men on to an ambulance. He was partially paralysed and repatriated to England. He was discharged and issued with Silver Badge No. 341781 in 1918 to wear as evidence of war service.
Ernest died on 31 July 1920, aged 26, at The Neurological Hospital, Tooting, Surrey, following an operation on his brain and is buried in Great Berkhamsted (St Peter) Church Cemetery, (also known as Rectory Lane Cemetery).
Additional Information
His widow obtained probate of his estate in London on 27 September 1920, with effects of £470 3s.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Jonty Wild, www.rectorylanecemetery.org.uk
