Name
Ernest Edward Fensom
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/10/1916
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
4214
London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
1st/8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 C and 9 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials, Northern District Post Office- WW1, North Road, Islington
Pre War
Ernest Edward Fensom was born in 1884 (baptised 12 Oct 1884, West Hackney, Middx.) to Robert Adam Fensom, porter, and Mary Ann (nee Crickmore).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Robert J (born 1872, waiter), Frederick (born 1874, paint labourer), Arthur (born 1876, printers boy), Laura (born 1880), Herbert (born 1882) and Ernest E were living at 17, Browns Place, Hackney, Middx.
Ernest’s mother died in 1886.
On the 1901 Census the family of Robert A, Laura, Deanna Smith (born 1836, housekeeper), Maude Smith (born 1877, shirt machinist, George Smith (born 1882, coal porter) and John Burnett, (born 1834, unemployed) were living at 17, Browns Place, Hackney, Middx.
Ernest enlisted in City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) as Private 9174 in the 1/4th Battalion, He was posted in the 1st/ 3rd battalion on 19 Nov 1902 in Egypt, to Burma on 12 Nov 1903, South Africa on 19 Feb 1905 and UK on 31 Mar 08. He was discharged on having served his term with the Colours on 23 Sep 1913.
On the 1911 Census Ernest was a porter boarding with the Widow Sarah Starling & family at 100, Stapleton Street, Hoxton. Ernest’s father died in 1911.
Ernest married Clara Frances E Daly in Shoreditch in 1913.
His widow Clara later lived at "Tintagel," 28, Common View, Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Ernest who enlisted in the 1st/8th Battalion of the City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) as Rifleman 4214.
The Battalion were part of 47th (2nd London) Division. He went to join them in France on 27 Aug 1916, He was posted Missing and his death was presumed killed in action on 7 Oct 1916 during the Battle of Le Transloy (1 – 18 October 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 £4 10s and arrears of £1 7s 11d was paid to his widow Clara, she also received a pension of 13s 9d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
