No.4312, Private, Ernest Harry MUMFORD
Aged 27
1st King's Dragoon Guards
Died of Disease on 20th August 1901
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Ernest Harry MUMFORD was born in 1874 in Thurston (Stow Q1-1874 4A:535) son of Alfred and Charlotte MUMFORD (née PRYME).
1881 census...Aged 7, he was at 2 Thedwastre Hill, Thurston with his father Alfred MUMFORD [40]merchant's banking clerk; his mother Charlotte [32] born Bury St.Edmunds; brothers Trevor Alfred [8], Foster [5], Owen E [1] and Augustus E [4 months];sister Maud E [3]. All except his mother were born in Thurston. 1891 census...Aged 17, he was a domestic groom, still at Thedwastre Hill with his parents; brother Foster (farm labourer), Owen, Augustus, Thomas W [8] Archibald H [5] and Cyril P [4 months]; sisters Maude and Ethel L [3]. The new siblings all born in Thurston. 1901 census...Aged 27, a stable groom, he was at Rougham Hall Stables, lodging with the BOSE family. His family were still at Thedwatre Hill. Confusingly, his number indicates enlisting between April and July 1898. It is possible for him to have been in UK for the 1901 census and dying in South Africa in August 1901, but this may well be a case of mis-identification in that census. The plaque in the church has his number quite clearly. His brother Foster died in 1902 in Lichtenburg see here |
In St. Peter's Church is the above plaque
IN MEMORY OF
NO. 4312 PTE MUMFORD
1ST KINGS DRAGOON GUARDS
DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA
21ST AUGUST 1901
ERECTED BY
HIS OFFICERS AND COMRADES
He died of disease at Bloemfontein.
There was no Commonwealth War Graves Commission in those days, in fact it is unlikely that the graves were marked or survive.
He is also commemorated on the Boer War Memorial on Cornhill, Bury St.Edmunds
and the 1st Dragoon Guards memorial plaque in Manchester Cathedral