Name
Ernest Frederick Brace
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/02/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
20986
Border Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NORFOLK CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. B. 48.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Cambridge Guildhall Memorial.
Pre War
Ernest was born on the 1st April 1892, in Sawbridgeworth, Herts and was the son of Lewis and Harriet Brace. He was baptised on the 3rd July 1892, in Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
The 1901 census shows Ernest as aged 8, living with his parents and 2 sisters in Knight Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. His father died in this year. Ernest joined the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force, with the service No 1429, at the age 18. His papers were signed in Hertford on the 31st March 1910. His record shows he attended two 2-week annual training camps in 1910 & 1911.
He was discharged on the 31st August 1911 because he had joined the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Special Reserve, signing his papers on the 1st September 1911. The census of that year records him as 19, living with his grandfather, widowed mother and sister, at 50 Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. His occupation was given as a maltster’s labourer.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Ernest was with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with the Service No 3/6866 and later the 6th Battalion. He disembarked in France in October 1914.
His records show he received a gunshot wound to the thigh. It is not known when, but he transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, with the Service No 10/20986 - probably when he had recovered.
On the night of 22 February 1917, there was a small German raid on this trench, preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. Although the German raid was unsuccessful, twelve British soldiers were killed by the shelling. One of these was Ernest Brace. He was aged 23.
Ernest Brace is buried at Norfolk Cemetery, Becorder-Becourt in France. He is named on the Roll of Honour of the Congregational Church Sawbridgeworth. He is also named (because his parents had moved to 438 Newmarket Road, Cambridge) on the Cambridge Guildhall Memorial.
Additional Information
His headstone reads “Ever in our thoughts” as requested by his mother.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Douglas Coe
