Name
Ernest Atkins
1 Jul 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
228120
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
1st (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, St Stephens Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore
Pre War
Ernest was born 1 Jul 1892 (baptised 2 Oct 1892 at Holy Trinity, Frogmore) to William James Atkins, a labourer, and Mary Ann (nee Linney).
On the 1901 Census Ernest was living at Park Street with relatives William Giddings, his wife Emily J and their daughter Lilian H. The rest of the Family of Parents, John (born 1882, a gravel digger), George (born 1885, an agricultural labourer), Ethel (born 1888), Alfred, Herbert C (born 1898) and Doris V (born 1901) were living at Park Street, Frogmore, St Albans. On the 1911 Census the Family were still living at Park Street and consisted of Parents, John (a carman), Ernest (a labourer), Alfred and Herbert.
Ernest married Emily Louisa Fearn in 1913, there would be two daughters Florence Gladys born 30 Jun 1914 and Lilian Maud born 30 Sep 1916.
Wartime Service
No Service records could be found for Ernest but he is recorded being enlisted as Private 330749 Cambridgeshire Regiment, which was a Territorial Force Regiment but later was transferred to 1st Battalion (City of London Regiment) Royal Fusiliers and posted to 13th (Service) Battalion. In April 1917 the 37th Division to which 13th Battalion were a component were engaged in the Battle of Arras in the engagement of the Second Battle of the Scarpe (23- 24 Apr 1917). It was during this period that Ernest was reported as ‘Killed in Action’ or ‘Died of Wounds’ and the date could be 23 Apr or 28 Apr. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
An address of 13 The Camp, St Albans, was recorded in his obituary in Hertford Mercury and Reformer 22 Jul 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 4s 4d was paid to his widow. (Death stated as ‘Died of wounds 23 4 17.) Brother Alfred served as 43009 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment and was killed in Action on 17 Feb 1917.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes
