Name
Ernest William May
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
303488
London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
1st/5th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 52 and 54.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, St Stephens Parish Memorial Tablet, Park Street
Pre War
Ernest William was born in Egham, Surrey in 1877 (baptised 29 Jul 1877 in Virginia Water, Surrey) to George May, a gardener, and Annie (nee Mattingley). On the 1881 census the family of parents, Annie M (born 1875), Ernest William, and Charles (born 1881) were living at Glenridge Lodge, Callow Hill, Egham. On the 1891 Census the family now consisting of parents, Annie M, Ernest W, Charles, Herbert (born 1882, Mabel (born 1884), and Edgar G (born 1886) were living at Chalvey Dale, Upton cum Chalvey, Slough, Bucks.
Ernest William married Emilly Jane Hamsher in 1899, and on the 1901 Census were living at 3 Botwell Close, Hayes, Uxbridge, Middx. With their son Ernst George (born 1901). Ernest’s parents were living at 45, Chalvey Road, Slough with Mabel, Edgar George and Mary Louise (born 1899).
By the 1911 Census the family had moved to Churchyard, Mildenhall with the additions of Gertrude Emily (born 1902) and Charles Herbert (born 1905).
Widow Emily came to live at7, Station Terrace, Park Street, St Albans.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Ernest. Ernest was probably enlisted in Aug 1916 as Rifleman 5502 in 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, London Rifle Brigade, a Territorial Force Unit. He would become Rifleman 303485 in the Territorial Force renumbering in 1917.
He joined his Battalion, a unit of 169 Brigade, 56 (1st London) Division in the Arras sector and would have taken part in the Battles of the Scarpe ( 9 Apr – 4 May 1917). 56 Division was moved to the Ypres Area to take part in the Battles of Passchendaele particularly the Battle of Langemarck (16-17 Aug 1917). During this action Ernest was posted Missing and his death was presumed on 16 Aug 1917.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
It is believed that the photographs is of Ernest.
War gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 12s $d was paid to his widow Emily. She also received a weekly pension of 18s 9d. Son Ernest George served in Rifle Brigade from 1918 to 1919 in occupation of Germany.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
