Name
Ernest Harry Crane
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/11/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TR/9/48630
Bedfordshire Regiment
53rd Training Reserve Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BENGEO (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, Bengeo War Memorial Plaque Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo
Pre War
Born in 1900 in Hertford son of Charles William and Elizabeth Crane and living in 15 Byde Street, Bengeo, Hertford in 1901. He had a brother Charles and a sister Elizabeth and in 1901 they lived at 15 Byde Street, Hertford and his father was a general labourer.
By 1911 they had moved to 17 Farquhar Street, Hertford and his father was now a brewery foreman.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Bedford into the 53rd Training Reserve Battalion based at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire for basic training. The 53rd Battalion, a unit specially set up to train young recruits for a period of three months (Previously called the Young Soldiers Battalion) after which they were placed in Graduated Battalions until deemed ready to serve overseas.
As Ernest never finished his training, his death notice in the Hertfordshire Mercury 9 Nov 1918 report that he died of Pneumonia at Cannock Chase Military Hospital.
Additional Information
Ernest is buried in what appears to be a family plot (not CWGC). He has an inscription on one side of the grave which reads:
"IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON ERNEST HARRY7 CRANE. DIED NOV 2ND AGED 19 YEARS"
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Marilyn Taylor
