Name
Ernest Francis Housden
3 Jun 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265447
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st/1st Bn.
'C' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Territorial Force War, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
IV. A. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Hockerill, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Thundridge memorials
Pre War
Ernest Francis Housden was born on 3 Jun 1896 in Thundridge, Herts (baptised at Thundridge on 26 Jul 1896) to Charles Housden and Lydia (nee Heath).
The 1901 Census found the family of parents, Alice (born 1881), Henry (born 1883), William (born 1886), Rosabella (born 1890), George (born 1895) and Ernest living at Armoury, Thundridge
On the 1911 Census Ernest was working as a butcher's boy and living with his family of parents, William and George (farm labourers), in Havers Lane, Bishop's Stortford.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at Bishop's Stortford as a Territorial Soldier and served as a Private in the Hertfordshire Regiment initially under service no. 2430. His original number suggests that enlisted sometime in 1913.
No Service records were found for Ernes and he became 265447 in the 1917 renumbering of Territoral Soldiers. His award of the Territorial Force Medal indicates that agreed, in Sep 1914 to serve overseas and probably leaving on 5 Nov 1914 with the 1st Battalion joining the 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division at Ypres. In 1915 the Battalion fought at Cuinchy, Festubert and Loos; In 1916 Somme; 1917 St Julien (Pilkem), Langemarck, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and 2nd Passchendaele. In 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive and the Battalion, now part of 116 Brigade, 39 Division were heavily involved in the Battle of St Quentin ( 21-23 Mar 1918) being forced to retreat under pressure from the enemy. During this action Ernest was killed in on 23 Mar 1918.
Additional Information
His mother Lydia received a War Gratuity of £18 10s and pay owing of £19 16s 7d. She also received 5 shillings a week pension from 1 Apr 1919. She also ordered his headstone inscription: "REST IN PEACE", when living at 111 London Road, Bishop's Stortford, Herts
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
