STEVENS, Ernest
No. 17646, Private, Ernest Edward STEVENS
Aged 19
9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Gassing on Tuesday 21st December, 1915
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Born in Burwell on 16th December 1896 [Newmarket 3b:531], baptised in Burwell 11th April 1897, the son of Frederick John and Sarah STEVENS
(née HEFFER),
of Landwade Road. Exning. 1901 census...At Landwade Road, Exning were Ernest [4] with his father Frederick [31] gas works labourer, his mother Sarah [32], sisters Margaret [9] and Edith [1], and brother Percy [6].All were born in Burwell. 1911 census...At 7 Heathside Cottages,Laceys Lane, Exning were Ernest [11] a farm labourer, his parents, brother Percy, now a lamp lighter, sisters Edith (now recorded as born at Ditton Lodge,Newmarket) and Bertha May [3] born Exning, Newmarket and grandfather John STEVENS [88]. Later his parents moved to Manor Farm Dairy, Granchester, Cambridge. Ernest's entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads as follows: Stevens, E. 9th Suffolks Ernest Stevens, whose parents used to live in Lacey's Lane, but have since removed to Cambridge, enlisted on January 8th, 1915. He died from the effects of gas poisoning on December 22nd, in the same year, and was buried in Boulogne. He was only 19 when he was killed. His Captain writes as follows: "Your son, as you no doubt know, was early recommended for the Machine Gun Section which includes only picked men from the Battalion. Here he acquitted himself admirably, and on the morning in question had the honour I believe with others of driving off the detachments of Germans who hoped to break through our lines. They did not do this, owing to the fine stand of our Suffolk boys, for which I know they have received praise from high quarters. Personally I am most grateful to you for your son's services to the Company I have the honour to command. I may say that at Eastbourne I saw him most pluckily running into second place I think, in the cross-country team race at the sports there, where he represented our Battalion. His section deplore his loss, and I beg you to accept my utmost sympathy, and on behalf of his comrades, in your loss". In the race above referred to , he came in second out of 243 starters and won a silver medal. He won the half mile Denison Pender Cup in 1914 and also the mile at the last Flower Show but one held at Exning, besides several other prizes. He was also a good football player. The Cambridge Independent Press recorded on 14th January 1916:- Exning Athlete Killed : - Mr.Fred Stevens, of Lacey's Lane, Exning, Newmarket,l has received official notification of the death of his son, Pte. Ernest Stevens of the 9th Suffolks, who has succumbed in hospital to wounds and gas poisoning. Great sympathy is felt in Exning for Mr,. Stevens, especially so as his wife is at present in Addenbrookes Hospital. Mr. Stevens had two sons in Kitchener's Army, Ernest in the 9th Suffolks and Percy in the 7th Suffolks. The first announcement left him in doubt as to which of his sons had died,but a later communication distinctly states that it is Ernest. Both young men were well known members of the Exning Football Club. Ernest was an excellent athlete, and won many prizes at local athletic sports. He won the Denison Pender Challenge Cup at the Newmarket Foresters' Sports in August 1914, the day on which the ultimatum was despatched to Germany, and consequently held that trophy at the time of his death.He enlisted in January 1915 and saw 11 months service. and on the 28th January the following, including the photo above LOCAL MEN KILLED IN ACTION Private ERNEST E. STEVENS, of Exning, Newmarket, 9th Batt. Suffolk Regiment who died in hospital on December 22nd of gas poisoning received on December 19th. A well known athlete and footballer; won the Denison Pender Half Mile Challenge Cup on August Bank Holiday, 1914 at Newmarket. His father, Mrs Fred Stevens, has just returned the cup , which was won on the day before war was declared. |
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On the 19th December 1915, the 9th Suffolk were in trenches in front of St Jean in Belgium. Gas was sent over early in the morning, followed by a very heavy
bombardment for 24 hours. During the gas attack, "D" Coy, in reserve on the canal bank rendered prompt assistance, marching into the line in their gas masks,
through intensive fire. Casualties were over eighty. This must have been when Ernest was gassed, then moved to General Hospital in Boulogne where he died. CWGC records 12 dead of the 9th Suffolk actually on the day, how many died after as a result of gassing/wounding is not known. |
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