Name
Ernest Samuel Lawton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2219
Seaforth Highlanders
4th Bn. (Ross-shire Buffs)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 38 and 39.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Samuel John and Elizabeth Jane (nee HILL) LAWTON of Watford.
His parents married 29 September 1894 at St Mary’s, Watford. Samuel died 1947 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 7 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1957 in the Barnet, Herts, district aged 85.
Ernest was born 1895 in Watford, and baptised 21 April 1902 at St James’, Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, an engineer’s mate aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 7 November 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There are articles about Ernest in the Watford Illustrated dated 5 June 1915, and the West Herts and Watford Observer also dated 5 June 1915; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 13 May 1916, 19 May 1917, 11 May 1918 and 10 May 1919.
Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
