Name
Ernest Edward Payne
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
103453
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL
II. F. 39.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, Not on the Ridge memorials
Pre War
He was the son of William and Lilian Payne, of Hazeldene, Colney Heath, St. Albans, Herts. He was born in Ridge, Hertfordshire and lived in the High Street, Colney Heath, Hertfordshire - second house before the village hall – opposite side to the former School House (1901) and “Hazeldene”, 7 High Street, Colney Heath, Hertfordshire (1911).
According to the 1901 census Ernest was one of five children (three daughters: Lillian, Daisy and Violet and two sons: Arthur and Ernest) of William and Lillian, his elder brother was Arthur. At the end of the Great War both brothers had been killed. The 1911 census also confirms that Ernest was living with his parents and sister Violet. It would appear that all his other brothers and sisters had moved out of the family home. Ernest superseded Violet Kent as the school / pupil teacher at Colney Heath School. Although there is no school log entry, from the 1911 census, it seems likely that this role commenced early in 1905, as the log does suggest that Violet Kent ceased these duties then. During 1911 he left this work and started as a general labourer, before eventually becoming a farm stockman prior to enlisting. Prior to the war he worked as a school / pupil teacher (1911), a general labourer (1911) and a stockman on farm (1915).
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regiment in St Albans and entered the war in France on 30th July 1915. Ernest was a private (12956) in the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was later transferred to the Sherwood Foresters and died as a Lance Corporal.
Additional Information
Both of his parents are buried at St Mark’s Church (new graveyard) - William died May 24th 1927 and Lillian died January 12th 1926.
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
