Name
Henry Ernest Appleton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
R/17128
King's Royal Rifle Corps
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 13A and 13B.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Whitstable War Memorial, Kent
Pre War
Son of Harry and Harriet Elizabeth (nee CREED) APPLETON.
His parents married 13 August 1894 at All Saints, King’s Langley, Herts. Harry died 1953 in Watford aged 88, and was buried 19 December in North Watford Cemetery; Harriet died 2 September 1964 in Watford aged 93, and was buried 7 September, also in North Watford Cemetery.
Henry was born 3 September1896 in Watford, and baptised 1 November 1896 at All Saints, King’s Langley. He attended first Sotheron Road Infants School, Watford; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 4 May 1904.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, Ernest aged 14 still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
His attestation was for Short Service (For the Duration of the War), with no previous service in any branch of His Majesty’s Forces. He enlisted 20 November 1915 in Watford: a grocer’s assistant aged 19, 5’4″ tall, of Watford, and joined the Battalion 23 November 1915 at Winchester. He embarked 14 April 1916 at Folkestone on board SS Invicta to join the base depot at Etaples. He proceeded to join his Battalion in the Field 11 May 1916 where, apart from a few days in October spent at 101 Field Ambulance and 19 Casualty Clearing Station, he remained until he was killed in action. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
