Name
Eric May
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
80363
Essex Yeomanry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Buntingford memorials
Pre War
Eric May was born in 1895 in Luton, Beds, the son of Thomas and Mary May (nee Lingard) and one of four children, Ralph, Eric Cyril and Roland. His father was described as merchant on his brother's marriage certificate in 1929 and his brother Cyril was born in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1900.
He was educated at Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, Rawdon, Yorkshire and was listed as a pupil there on the 1911 Census. He was said to be living in Buntingford at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Colchester, Essex, and joined the Essex Yeomanry, serving in France from 30 November 1914. At some point he was promoted to Sergeant.
The Essex Yeomanry joined the 8th Cavalry Brigade with the Royal Horse Guards and 19th Royal Hussars soon after arriving in France, but, as the war progressed and use of cavalry diminished, their role changed to front-line duties in the trenches and they were involved in several key battles.
Eric was killed in action in France on 11 April 1917 during the Battle of the Scarpe, part of the Arras Offensive. The 8th Cavalry Brigade was ordered to advance mounted over open country to occupy high ground east and north east of Monchy-le-Preux. The Essex Yeomany led the movement and came under heavy machine gun fire while crossing a bridge. They suffered 135 casualties and almost all their horses were killed. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Eric is one of 28 soldiers named on the memorial who served with the Essex Yeomanry and died on the same day.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £17 and pay owing of £8 5s 4d. No pension records have been found.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
