Name
Ernest John Coe
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/11/1914
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9477
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 4.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Jane (formerly HOWARD, nee COE) WEST.
Ernest was born 11 August 1891 in Watford, and attended Victoria Boys’ School, Watford; then Alexandra School, Watford, from 27 June to 29 July 1904. He resided in Watford.
His mother married Alfred HOWARD 31 March 1895 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Alfred died 1903 in the Watford district aged 33. Jane remarried 1916 in the Watford district to Charles WEST; she died 1945 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 26 April in North Watford Cemetery.
On the 1901 Census, Ernest [recorded as HOWARD] aged 9 lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the infantry, Bedfordshire Regiment, aged 19, he was stationed in Aldershot, Hants.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 6 October 1914, and was presumed killed in action in the First Battle of Ypres when the Battalion was in reserve at Ploegsteert around Chateau Rossignal.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
