Name
Ernest Mardle
26th March 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/02/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/15596
Royal Sussex Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK
I. D. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Lemsford Village Memorial, We are not aware of any Cromer Hyde memorial
Pre War
Ernest and Charles Mardle, twin sons of George Henry and Elizabeth (née Smart) Mardle were born at Cromer Hyde on the 26th March 1888 and baptised at St.John's church, Lemsford the same day. This was George & Elizabeth's second set of twins - Harry and Alfred had been born in 1880. In the 1881 Census their older sister Eleanor, aged 13, is noted as being a mother's help and would have been much needed. They also had a younger brother, Frank, whose name is on the Lemsford War Memorial. Ernest and Charles attended Lemsford School from March 21st 1892 – May 29th 1902, when they left to work on a farm.
In the 1891 Census Ernest was recorded as age 3, with twin brother Charles, and living at Cromer Hyde. His father was working as an agricultural labourer. By the family were living with his parents and siblings in a Cottage at Cromer Hyde. His father now working as a cowman. Still in Cromer Hyde in 1911, Ernest was working as farm labourer.
Ernest Mardle enlisted at Hertford in October 1914.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database (SDITGW) records Ernest as born in Hatfield and enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Ernest first joined the Hertfordshire Regiment with service number 4181, which was issued post 4th November and 13th December 1914. At some point was transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment, 7th Battalion, with the service number G/15596. That battalion landed at Boulogne on the 31st May 1915.
The 7th Bn. Sussex Regiment had been involved at Cambrai from the 30th November 1917 to the 3rd December repelling a German counterattack 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917 and then from the 24th to the 25th March 1918 at the First Battle of Bapaume.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of March 1917, recorded: “Private E. Mardle........ Has gone abroad again.”
His obituary in the Herts Advertiser & St. Albans Times, Saturday March 9th 1918 reads:- 'Pte. Ernest Mardle, aged 29, Sussex Regiment, single, a twin son of Mr and Mrs George Mardle, Cromer Hyde near Hatfield and brother of Mr Harry Mardle, Alexandra Road, St. Albans was killed in France on February 1st. He joined the Army in October 1914, had been in France for over two years and had been twice wounded. His last leave was taken towards the close of last year and he returned to France on Christmas Day. He was formerly a farm labourer at Water End, near Wheathampstead’.
Captain Campbell in a letter to the relatives stated that Private Mardle was killed instantaneously while he was doing his duty like a good soldier. “I can only state” the writer adds “how much I sympathise with you in your loss and say that both the officers and men feel the same. It may comfort you a little to think that no many can give his life better than your son did and I am certain he gave it willingly in the service of his country”.”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Mardle (Mother) of Cromer Hyde received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
His younger brother, Bombardier Frank Mardle, Herts Artillery, was killed in France in June 1916.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), Andy Chapman & www.lemsfordww1.co.uk
