Name
Ernest Frank Kingham (MM)
5 Aug 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15047
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Ernest Frank was born Harpenden on 5 Aug 1896 to Arthur Kingham, a bricklayers’ labourer, and Mary Anne (nee Gray). The Family were living at Lower Cravells Road, Harpenden and on the 1911 Census they were living at the Carpenters’ Arms in the Bowling Alley. Ernest was working at Fields Hat Factory as an errand boy. He was a member of St John’s Church.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 15047 and went with the 7th Battalion on 26 Jul 1915 and probably serving on the Somme as he was wounded in Aug 1916.
He was with the 7th Battalion in the Arras area at the third Battle of the Scarpe when the battalion were part of the attack at Cherisy on 3 May 1918. This attack was delayed because it was not light at the original zero hour as the defence was heavy and the attack failed with no ground gained. During this attack Ernest was killed. He was one to the few who had managed to reach Fontaine Trench that day.
He was reported wounded and missing, officially being reported (13 Nov 1917) killed in the action of the 3rd May. His Military Medal also for this action was announced 17 Jul 1917. His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity £12 and arrears of£ 13 18s 5d paid to his father. Older brother served as Private 43288 in Leicestershire Regiment and survived war.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
