Name
Ernest Charles Dudley
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/09/1917
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26541
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SARIGOL MILITARY CEMETERY, KRISTON
D. 552.
Greece
Headstone Inscription
"IN LIFE DEARLY LOVED IN DEATH SADLY MISSED REST AFTER BATTLE"
UK & Other Memorials
Broxbourne Town Memorial, St Augustine’s Church Memorial, Broxbourne, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Not on the Cheshunt Memorial, Not on the Hoddesdon Memorial
Pre War
Ernest Charles DUDLEY was born in late 1882, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, the son of Charles Dudley a Domestic Gardener and Ellen Lauranna Dudley (nee Porter). One of 10 children. His parents were married on 29th June 1868, in Hoddesdon, Herts.
1891 Census records Ernest aged 8, at school, living with his parents, four sisters, and two brothers Edwin (11) and Albert (3), at Lodge Hollow, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon, Herts. His grandmother widow Harriet Porter was living with the family.
1901 Census, Ernest (18), is working as a Domestic Gardener, his parents, four sister and two brothers are still living at Lodge Hollow.
Ernest married Ellen Martha Pavey, the daughter of Samuel and Hannah Pavey, on 17th April 1909, at Christ Church, Ware, Herts. They went on to have three children Eric Ernest Charles born 1910, Jack Lewis born 1912 and Frank Thomas born 1915.
1911 Census records Ernest as married to Ellen, he is employed as an under Gardener, they have one son Eric Ernest Charles aged 13 months, and living at Beaumont, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
Ernest travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist on 12th December 1915, posted to the army reserve the following day the 13th. Mobilized for war service on 5th June 1916 and posted to the Northamptonshire Regiment on 6th June 1916, issued with the service number 25532. He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) with the service number 26541 on 20th October 1916. On completion of his training, he Embarked at Devenport on 4th November 1916 for Salonika arriving on 16th November 1916, joining the 9th Battalion in the field on 25th November 1916.
Ernest was killed in a training accident on 18th September 1917.
On the morning of the 18th September 1917, Ernest was with a party of 20 men were undergoing live bombing practice, he was in the bombing practice pit when the Mills Bomb, he was about to through exploded in his raised hand. He was taken to 31st Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) with Hand, Sholder and Abdomen wounds where he died three hours later. He was initially buried in Janes Military Cemetery in Greece. Which was located near the 31st CCS.
The court of enquiry found the Mills Bomb had malfunctioned and exploded prematurely.
Additional Information
Ellen was awarded a widow’s pension of 26/3 (£1-6s-3d) a week from 11th April 1918, for herself and the three children, and his effects of £2-19s-03d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £5.
1921 Census records Ellen (39) as a widow on Home Duties and a Pensioner, living with sons Eric (11) and Frank (5), in High Road, Broxbourne, Herts. Son Jack (9) is recorded as a patient at The Hertford and Ware Joint Hospital.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Richard Barber, Jonty Wild
