Name
Ernest Walter Haines
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/08/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
18085
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
II. Q. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
SWEET ARE THE MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND WE THINK HIM EVER NEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Ernest Walter was born in Harpenden in 1890 to George Haines, a Police Sergeant, and Mary Ann (nee Deamer).
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Thorpe Road, St Albans. By the 1901 Census they were living at Cowper Road, Harpenden and on the 1911 Census at Cravells Road, Harpenden. Ernest’s occupation was give as Plumber. There were 11 Haines children.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted as Private 18085 Bedfordshire Regiment and was promoted to the Rank of Corporal.
He went to France on 8 Jun 1915. The 2nd Battalion were engaged in many actions on France and Flanders. On 25 Aug 1918 as part of the 2nd Battles of the Somme the 2nd Battalion took part in the attack and capture of Fricourt and a further advance of 2 miles at the cost of other rank casualties of 3 killed and 7 wounded. Ernest was one of these casualties.
Additional Information
Mr R J Haines, 26 Lower Cravells Road, Harpenden, Herts. ordered his heastone inscription: "SWEET ARE THE MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND WE THINK HIM EVER NEAR". War Gratuity of £19 and arrears of £18 12s 1d paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
