Name
Ernest Roland Brand
23/01/1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23292
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial, Cheshunt, Not on the Bengeo Memorials
Pre War
Born on 23rd January 1886, in Bengeo, to parents Charles and Emma, he had three brothers and three sisters.
In 1891 they were living in Bengeo Street and his father was employed as a bricklayer. By 1901 he is living at 145 Bengeo Street with his father and stepmother along with other family members and he was employed as a houseboy.
Ernest married Martha and was living at 10 Ethelbert Cottage, Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt, with a daughter Lillian Maud and now he was employed as a nurseryman.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at Bedford and was posted to the 7th Bttn. which had been formed in September 1914 and they arrived in France in July 1915. They fought in the Somme campaign at the Battles for Albert, Trones Wood, Thiepval and the Scarpe.
By May 1917 they had moved to the Ypres sector where on 3rd May they attacked the village of Cherisy. The attack began at 0415 but soon became a total disaster as troops lost themselves and moved in the wrong direction and even four tanks supposedly there to assist went the wrong way through their own men. Some of the Bedford’s managed to get through the first German lines and held out in shell holes for the rest of the day before retreating to the start line. It was during this battle that Ernest was killed.
Additional Information
Martha received a widows pension of 20/- a week from 19th November 1917, and his effects of £2-5s-11d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £6.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Terry & Glenis Collins
