Name
Ernest Collett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/2945
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Wheathampstead memorials, Holy Trinity Church, WW1, Wealdstone, Greater London
Pre War
Ernest was born in Pimlico, London in 1889. On the 1891 census Ernest and his mother Emily Collett, a domestic servant, were living at Good Will, Gretta Road, Pinner, Middx with John Bunn and Jane (sister to Emily). On the 1901 Census Ernest was living with his Aunt Jane Bunn and her husband John at 4 Alexandra Terrace, Headstone Drive, Wealdstone.
On the 1911 Census Ernest was listed as an ironmonger’s assistant and still living with his aunt Jane at the same address. His aunt’s husband, John Bunn, had died in 1911.
Wartime Service
Ernest gave his address as the Gate, Wheathampstead, when he attested on 15 Feb 1916 and placed on Army Reserve until he was mobilised on 2 May 1916 as Private 2495 Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment.
His records have differing prefixes to his service number F/ seems to be that most used although G/ can be found. The F prefix was normally used for recruits to the Football Battalions (17 and 23), and Ernest may have been destined for the 17th (1st Football) Battalion. However following his training with 27th Battalion, on 15 Sep 1916 he was posted to France arriving in Boulogne on 16 Sep 1916 and joining the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion on the Somme Battlefield on 1 Oct 1916. The 16th Battalion were engaged in the Battle of Le Transloy (1 – 18 Oct 1916) and Ernest was reported killed in action on the 23 Oct 1916.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 2s 11d was paid to his aunt Jane Bunn.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
