Name
Ernest Samuel Pitt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
301032
London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk,Park Street, Not on St Albans memorials
Pre War
Ernest Samuel was born in Whtechapel, London in 1897 (baptised 14 May 1897, Hackney, London) to George Augustus Pitt, a licensed victualler, and Emilie (Emily nee Tassell).
On the 1891 Census his parents were living at the Sash & Cocoa Tree, White Cross Place, Shoreditch, with daughter Maud Mary (born & died 1891).
On the 1901 census the family were living at Shirley Road, West Ham, London and consisted of parents, Annie (born 1892), Walter George (born 1893), Ernest and Lucy Kate (born 1899)
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Walter George, a stable help, Ernest, a telegraph messenger boy, Lucy Kate and twins Arthur Edwin and Ada Edith (born 1 Jun 1902) were living at Colney Street, St Albans.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Ernest. He may have volunteered in Mar 1915 as Rifleman 1776 in 5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). Service number 1701 was issued on 3 Mar 1915. He would receive 301032 when all Territorials where given six figure service numbers.
All battalions of the London Regiment were Territorial Force Units. Ernest went to France on 7 Sep 1915 to join his Battalion which had been with the British Expeditionary Force since Nov 1914 and were now part of 8 Brigade, 3 Division. On 10 Feb 1916 the 56 (1st London) Division was formed and 5th Battalion were posted to 169 Brigade. Both 56 Division and 46 (North Midland) Divisions were to form a diversion to the main attacks to take place on 1st July 1916, the opening day of the Battles of the Somme.
On the 1st Jul 1916 the London Division was successful and almost all objectives taken. However the second part by 46 Division was less successful and an anticipated link up and encirclement was not achieved. It was during this action that Ernest was reported killed in action, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity £5 10s and arrears of £2 3s 10d was paid to his father.
His brother Walter George served with queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment and was killed in action on 18 Sep 1914 following the advance from the Battle of the Aisne.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
