Name
Ernest Wells
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1914
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9686
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY
VIII. A. 1.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial, St Peter's C of E Primary School, Mill End, St Peter's Church Roll of honour, Mill End,
Pre War
Ernest Wells was born and baptised in Mill End, the youngest child of George, a bricklayer, and Harriet Wells in 1888.
In 1891, aged 3, his address was given as Brown Row, North Side of Mill End where he was living with his grandfather, John Gilbert, aged 85 along with his brothers Arthur, aged 13 and Harry, aged 10. His parents, were living a few houses along the road with their other children. His mother, Harriet died in 1891 and was buried in Rickmansworth.
Ernest would have attended St Peter’s School in Mill End where his name is on the Roll of Honour Board. In 1901, Ernest, who was still at school, was living in White Row with his father, along with his older siblings, Kate and George. By 1911 Ernest had joined the army with the Bedfordshire Regiment.
The 1911 census shows that Ernest, aged 21, was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment at Maida Barracks, Aldershot. He enlisted at Watford in the Regulars.
Wartime Service
As a regular soldier he went to fight early and entered France on 6 October 1914 and was killed in action at Ploegsteert Wood.
The War diaries of the Bedfordshire Regiment 2nd Battalion for the days before Ernest Wells was killed reported the following:
November 9th 1914. A few shells in Ploegsteert. Nothing happened during the day. Attack on Germans who had broken through the line into Ploegsteert Wood arranged by General Hunter-Weston to take place that night. York Regiment moved out during the night to support attack.
November 10th: Attack reported a failure situation the same. A few more shells in Ploegesteert. York Regiment and Bedford Regiment ordered to dig a second line of trenches during the night.
November 11th: The York Regiment returned about 6am having dug trenches in pouring rain all night. Situation the same. Ploegsteert was heavily shelled.
Additional Information
Originally buried at grid reference 28.T.18.d.5.8 and then reburies as part of a concentration of bodies at Strand Military Cemetery - identified by a cross grave marker. If you are a family member, please contact the HAW Project, mentioning Ernest's full name and "Medal".
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox
