Name
Ernest William Attwood
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19951
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 10 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial, Cheshunt
Pre War
Ernest William Attwood was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire,
in 1894, son of Charles Attwood and Mary Ann Attwood, (nee Warwick). One of
five children although one died in infancy.
Ernest started school at St Marys Infant School, Cheshunt,
on 6 June 1898, leaving on 30 May 1902, to go to the boy’s school.
1901 Census records Ernest aged 6, living with his parents,
three sisters and brother Arthur (8) at, 2, Wilburfree Terrace, Windmill Lane,
Cheshunt, Herts. His uncle William Attwood was also living with the family.
1911 Census records Ernest aged 16, employed as a Nursery
Hand, living with his parents, sisters Clara (20), and Sybil (13), at, 40,
Albury Grove Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at Southend-on-Sea, posted to the Essex
Regiment, with the service number 19951.
Seeing service in Gallipoli and the Western Front. He was
killed in action on 12 October 1916, during the Assault on Gueudecourt, France.
(Part of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 to 18 November 1916). He has no
known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the
missing.
“January 1915 the Battalion moved to Banbury from
Harwich, coming under the command of 88th Brigade of the 29th
Division. In March 1915, the Battalion sailed from Avonmouth, for Gallipoli,
via Alexandria, Egypt and Mudros, landing at Cap Helles, Gallipoli on 22 April
1915, seeing action against the Turkish Army at the 1st, 2nd
& 3rd Battles of Krithia, battle of Cully Ravine, Battle of
Krithia Vineyard and The Battle of Scimitar Hill.
In January 1916, the Battalion was evacuated from
Gallipoli to Egypt due to severe casualties from combat, disease and the harsh
weather.
Of the 883 Officers and Other Ranks of the 1st
Battalion, Essex Regiment that landed at Gallipoli only 375 men left 9 months
later.
March 1916, they sailed from Alexandria, Egypt, for
Marseilles, France, and then by train to Pont-Remy and established camp in
the Abbeville area”.
Additional Information
His mother Mary Attwood received a dependents pension of 5/- a week from 6 November 1918. His effects of £6-11s-00d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £4-10s-00d, went to his father Charles Attwood.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
