Name
Ernest Mascall
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25964
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL ROAD EAST CEMETERY, ST. LAURENT-BLANGY
I. E. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
High Wych Memorial, Not on the Sawbridgeworth memorials
Pre War
Ernest was the son of Alfred and Susan Mascall, of High Wych Lane, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. He was recorded as being born in High Wych in November 1893.
In the 1911 census he was recorded as a ‘Nursery Gardener’ living with his uncle and aunt in Sawbridgeworth and was living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
In January 1916 enlisted into the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. This unit arrived in France on 25 July 1916.
During Spring 1917, Ernest’s Battalion was involved in the major attack at Arras. Confusingly, the date given for Georges death is 21 April 1917. On this day, the Battalion diary records that they were in a support line (and had been since 16 April) with no casualties. However, on 15 April, the Battalion took 60 casualties performing a ‘Reconnaissance of Gavrelle’. It therefore deems more likely that Ernest was mortally wounded then, and died at the later date of those wounds.
Ernest Mascall is buried at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blangy, France. He was aged 24.
Additional Information
Interestingly, an Ernest Charles Mascall, also from Sawbridgeworth, and who was known as Charles enlisted for four years. He was confirmed as old enough by Captain Gough of the Hertfordshire Regiment, but he lied about his age as he was only 16. They found out and he was discharged. This is not the same man as Charles; parents were Thomas and Mary.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, David Harvey – Leventhorpe School, Douglas Coe
