Name
Ernest Alfred Sawkins
19/05/1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23205
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CRUCIFIX CORNER CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX
I. C. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin memorial Cheshunt, Not on the Goffs Oak Memorial
Pre War
Ernest Alfred Sawkins was born on 19th May 1893, in Goffs Oak/Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, (depending on the document), the birth was registered in Edmonton, Middx, son of Joseph Sawkins an Agricultural Worker and Mary Jane Sawkins (nee Johnson). One of five children.
He was Baptised on 30th July 1893, at St James Church, Goffs Oak, Herts. At the time the family were living in St James Road, Goffs Oak.
His mother Mary Jane Sawkins died in 1898, aged 31.
1901 Census records Ernest as aged 11, his widowed father, sisters Rose (13), Emily (4), and brother Punch (8), boarding with John and Sarah Moule and their family in St James Road, Goffs Oak, Herts.
1911 Census, Ernest (17), his widowed father, brother Arthur (21), sister Emily (15), are boarding with Alfred and Roberta Dole and their family in Jones Road, Goffs Lane, Goffs Oak, Herts. Ernest is employed as a Farm Labourer.
His father Joseph remarried in 1911, to Mary Ann Taylor, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx.
Wartime Service
Ernest travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist. Posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 23205.
On completion of his training he was sent to France, he was Killed in Action on 24th April 1918, while serving with the 7th Battalion. He is buried in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Additional Information
His effects of £8-15s-9d pay owing and his war gratuity of £11,
went to his father Joseph Sawkins.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
