Name
Ernest Henry Woodland
23/12/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/10135
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, Not on the St Albans memorials, Napsbury Hospital and Staff Memorial London Colney, Puckington WW 1 Memorial Tablet
Pre War
Ernest Henry WOODLAND was born on 23rd December 1887, in Puckington, Somerset, son of Albert Woodland an Agricultural Worker and Mary Woodland (nee Priddle). The eldest of their five children although one died in infancy. His parents married on 25th December 1886, in Puckington, Somerset.
Ernest was Baptised on 22nd January 1888, in Puckington, Somerset.
1891 Census records Ernest aged 3, living with his parents, in Puckington. The family had a lodger, Widow Philis Bailey.
1901 Census, Ernest (13), had left school and was work as a Domestic Gardener, living with his parents, brother Edward (9) and sister Mabel Alice (5), at 680 Police Station, Puckington. Sister Ethal May Woodland was born in 1902.
1911 Census, Ernest (23) is recorded as a visitor at Pimperne, Melbury Osmond, Dorset.
Ernest married Harriet Taylor on 1st June 1914, in Essendon, Herts. They went on to have one son Philip Harry Woodland born on 21st July 1915.
At the time of his enlistment Ernest and the family were living in Maple Close, Napsbury, Herts, he was employed as a Gardener at Napsbury Hospital.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at St Albans, Herts, on 6th December 1915, posted to the Army reserve on 7th December 1915, he was mobilized for war service on 29th May 1916, posted to 3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on 1st June 1916. On completion of his training, he was sent to France on 10th October 1916, and posted to 6th Battalion on 13th November 1916, joining them in the field on 15th November1916. He had qualified on the Lewis Gun.
He was reported missing presumed Killed in Action on 3rd May 1917; during the Third Battle of the Scarp (Battle of the Scarp 3rd to 4th May 1917), the 6th Battalion encountered heavy fighting during the Battle, sustaining heavy casualties, Ernest being one of them. He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing. Bay 2.
Additional Information
Harriet received a widow’s pension of 18s/9d a week from 24th December 1917, and a grant of £5, on 31st May 1918, and his effects of 10s/7d pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
His service record is available on-line at Find my Past Uk www.findmypast.co.uk and Ancestry UK www.ancestry.co.uk
Harriet remarried in St Albans, Herts, in April 1919, to Albert John Mansfield.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Gareth Hughes
