Name
Ernest George Lilley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16841
Grenadier Guards
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, GRENAY
Plot I, Row K, Grave 44.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of William Cecil and Flora (nee KNOWLES) LILLEY of Watford; husband of Ellen Frances (nee REEVE) LILLEY of London.
His parents married 8 April 1894 at St Mary’s, Watford. Flora died 1949 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 20 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; William died 1949 in Watford aged 84, and was buried 17 October, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ernest was born 29 May 1894 in Watford [not Saffron Walden, Essex]. He attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 7 January 1901 to 6 December 1906, and again from 11 February to 28 June 1907. He married 1915 in the Kensington, London, district. Ellen never remarried and died 19 February 1978 in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, aged 83.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a fish fryer aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 26 July 1915, and was presumed killed in action.
Additional Information
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)
