Name
Eric Lillywhite Lailey
14/11/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/02/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BARD COTTAGE CEMETERY
I. F. 14.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"THE STRIFF IS O'ER THE BATTLE DONE"
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey War Memorial, Watford Borough Roll of Honour. Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Eric Lillywhite Lailey, born in Bushey, Herts, on 14th November 1894, son of Ernest Henry Lailey, a Civil Engineer and Leah Weeks/Wecks Lailey (nee Lillywhite). The second of four children and the only son. Eric was Baptised on 14th December 1894 at St James Church, Bushey, Herts.
His parents married 28 April 1891 at St Michael’s, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts. Leah died 24 July 1923 in Watford aged 61, and was buried 27 July at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Ernest remarried 1924 in the Watford district to Ellen SUMMERS; he died 25 March 1942 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 28 March at St James; Ellen died 1945 in Watford aged 84, and was buried 9 November, also at St James.
1901 Census records Eric aged 6, living with his parents, sister Joan 4, and two live in Domestic Servants. Census address: “Firbank”, Staunton Park, New Bushey, Herts. His elder sister Nancy 9 was a boarder at “Corseley House” (Young Ladies School) in Groombridge, Sussex.
Eric was educated at Bedales Boarding School in Petersfield, Hampshire.
1911 Census records Eric aged 16, and still at school, at home with his parents, sisters Nancy 19, Joan 14, and Dorothy 7, and one live in Domestic Servant. Census address: “Firbank”, Pinner Road Watford, Oxley, Herts.
He attended University College London and Qualifying as a Civil Engineer.
Wartime Service
Eric was attested on 15th September 1914, at Euston Road, London, for 4 years’ service in the U.K. into the 28th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Artist Rifles) Territorial Force, he was aged 19, as Private 2700 Eric Lailey. He was discharged on 10th November 1914, as he was appointed a Commission. He was Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.
He landed in France in July 1915, and fort on the Western Front. He was killed in Action the following year (29th February 1916) at the age of 21 and was buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery in Belgium.
His sister Nancy carried out 6 months voluntary service work and then joined the V.A.D as a nurse from May 1915 to September 1918, serving at the Military Hospital in Newcastle on Tyne, and then the Military Hospital in Liverpool. She was awarded 2 Scarlet Efficiency Stripes and 3 Service Stripes.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
His parents moved, firstly to 34, Chalk Hill, Oxhey and later to ‘Newton’, Watford, Herts.
Additional Information
His father, E. Lailey, Esq. of "Newton" Watford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "THE STRIFF IS O'ER THE BATTLE DONE"". The value of his effects were £7-7s-5d, Pay Owing and £5, War Gratuity, the recipient was not given. His Will left his effects to his father. There is an article about Eric in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 11 March 1916. Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
