No.72110, Lance Corporal, Ernest STITTLE
Aged 26
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Ernest Bertram Stittle was born in Soham on 5th September 1892 (Newmarket Q4-1892 3B:499), baptised on 12th October 1892, son of Alfred and Ann Elizabeth STITTLE
(née ISAACSON) of Hall Street, Soham.
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Hall Street, Soham with his father Alfred Stittle [51] saddler; his mother Ann E [49]; sisters Alice [23], Ellen [14] and Eliza [13]; brothers Fred [20] (saddler), Alfred [16] (saddler's apprentice),and Harry [11]. All were born in Soham 1911 census...Aged 18, a Post Office assistant, he was still at Hall Street, Soham with his father; brother Henry (saddler) and Alfred (saddler); sister Ellen (now Mrs HOWE) and her daughter Ellen Stittle HOWE.(Herbert Howe was visiting his parents in Hall Street, Soham) His mother was visiting his brother John Mold STITTLE and his family in Willesden His elder brother Alfred, serving in the Royal Field Artillery, died in France in 1915. see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. International Red Cross archive have just these records of him firstly being captured, unwounded, at Berry au Bac ( a few miles north of Rheims) on 27th May 1915 and
gives his date of birth as 5th September 1892, Next of kin Alfred Stittle of Hall Street, Soham. Then strangely he becomes a civilian prisoner, with a
slightly different date of birth, dying on 11th October 1918 in No 3 German Hospital in Sedan and buried in grave 801 in the cemetery of St Charles, which matches closely with CWGC
records. Since his Army records have not been found, this is about as accurate as we can be.
The Battle of the Aisne was raging just north of Rheims, as the allied with tanks were regaining ground lost to the Germans in the Spring Offensive.
From Berry au Bac to Sedan is around 100 Km.
photo; Pierre Vandervelden www.inmemories.com click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
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