Name
Ernest Charles Venning
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
590708
London Regiment (London Irish Rifles)
1st/18th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
He was the son of Mr and Mrs William Edward Venning of 1, Whinbush Road, Hitchin. He resided in Brixton and enlisted in Chelsea.
Wartime Service
He served in the 1st Battalion of the London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) and held the Regimental Number 590708. He was killed in action.
The unit was probably the l/18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish Rifles) which was part of the 141st Brigade of the 47th Division of V Corps in the 3rd Army. The incident was almost certainly in the Battle of St. Quentin when the Battalion came into the line on the 20th March 1918 in the La Vacquerie Sector. There was a tremendous bombardment with gas and trench mortars which caused heavy casualties. This was in the area of Ribecourt south-west of Cambrai.
Ernest has no known grave, but is remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
