Name
Ernest Turney
23/03/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14454
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
"D" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme, France.
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury
Pre War
Ernest TURNEY was born on 23rd March 1894, in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, son of Joseph Turney a Labourer and Sarah Ann Turney (nee Messeder). One of their three children although 1 died in infancy.
He was baptised on 13th May 1894, in the Parish of Aldbury, Herts.
The 1901 census recorded Ernest aged 7, living with his parents, in Malting Lane, Aldbury, Herts. His sister Lily Elizabeth (4) was staying with her Uncle and Aunt, Samuel and Elizabeth Messeder, who lived a few door up the Road, on the night of the Census.
The 1911 census recorded Ernest aged 17, working as a Farm Labourer, living with his parents, and sister Lily Elizabeth (14), in Trooper Road, Aldbury, Herts. The family had a boarder a Samuael Messeder (believed to be Sarah’s elder brother).
Wartime Service
Ernest travelled to the County Town of Hertford, to enlist, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service No. 14454. On completion of his training, he was sent to France, arriving on 1st May 1915. He was Killed in Action on 11th July 1916, aged 22, during the Battle of the Somme (Battle of the Somme 1st July to 18th November 1916). He has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C.
“Part of 21st Brigade, 7th Division until December 1915 when transferred to 30th Division and 89th Brigade.
The Battalion was in reserve on first day of the Somme (1/7/16). Battalion war diary for 11th July 1916 states the 'D' Coy. was under the command of Capt. R O Wynne and attacked Trones Wood. 'C' & 'D' Coys. dug in on the South West edge of the wood after heavy fighting. Counterattacks and heavy fighting continued all day, until relieved by the 7th Bn The Royal West Kent Regiment at about 1am on 12th July. Casualties were 5 officers and 230 other ranks”.
Additional Information
His effects of £10-11s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £8-10s-00d, went to his father Joseph Turney.
Acknowledgments
Jo Bayley, Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
