2nd Lieutenant, Ernest Scott HOUSEHOLD
Aged 24
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Born on 8th June 1893 in Lakenheath [Mildenhall Q3-1893 4A:774] to Wlliam Thomas and Hannah HOUSEHOLD (née SMITH).
His father, William Thomas HOUSEHOLD, born Lakenheath 1843, married first to Sarah MOORE in Lakenheath in 1864 [died 1877], and secondly to Hannah SMITH in Barton Regis in 1879. He died 12th June 1895, one time grocer/draper/postmaster, Brandon House, High Street, Lakenheath. 1901 census...Aged 7, he was living at Brandon Villa, St Albans Road, Watford with his widowed mother- Hannah [47] born Lakenheath; sister Ethel May [20] born Lakenheath; brother- Francis [19] a draper's assistant, born Lakenheath; sister- Jessie [18] kindergarten governess, born Lakenheath. 1911 census...Aged 17, a school clerk, he was living at 1A Westland Road, Watford with his widowed mother, sister Ethel May PROLE [30] born in Lakenheath and married, and her son, William Thomas PROLE.The census shows his mother had 6 children but 2 had died. Schooled in Watford he eventually became a solicitor's clerk. In 1919 his mother was still at 1a Westland Road, Watford, by 1922 she was living at 101 Durban Road, Watford. In 2015 his old school opened a £1.5 M sports pavilion and named it in his honour. |
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Enlisted as Private No. 8172, Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on 6th December 1915, weighing 126 lbs (57.3 kg), height 5' 7 3/4" (172.1 cm)
chest 35.5" to 39".(90.2 to 99.1 cm) The Army built him up, one year later he was 5' 9 1/2" (176.5 cm)tall, weighed 140 lbs (63.7 kg) and chest 35" to 38"(88.9 to 96.5 cm). He was recommended for a commission on 8th August 1916 but his commission did not come until 24th January 1917. In 1917 the 5th Essex were in the Middle East so Ernest must have been attached to the 9th (Service) Battalion to have been in France in July 1917. They were involved in taking LONG TRENCH about that time. Sadly the war dairy in this instance does not name killed or wounded officers Duisans Cemetery (actually in the village of Etrun NW of Arras) was used by 8th Casualty Clearing Station where he died. The Bury Free Press of the 11th August 1917 reported that he had received a serious wound to his right arm on July 18th, so bad that is was necessary to amputate the limb. This it seems was successful at first, but he relapsed and died later. A letter from Lt-Col. F.V.Thompson, commanding 8th Essex was as follows:- "Dear Madam. It is with the utmost regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, 2nd Lieut.E.S.Household, on the 21st July, from wounds received on the night of 18th July. On the morning of 17th July, two companies of my battalion attacked Long Trench, east of Monchy-le-Preux. The attack failed and I was ordered to attack again at 9.45 pm. This was partially successful, and at 1 am on the 18th July I had to make a further effort, in which your son commanded a Platoon. He and his Platoon behaved most gallantly , but were counter-attacked by the enemy and driven back to a position, in which a few of them, with your son, held out all day. At night your son, with one unwounded man reached our own lines, bringing with them a severely wounded man under most difficult circumstances. Your son had been wounded in two places in the arm. I saw him and congratulated him on his gallant behaviour. He was most cheerful and not in much pain. He was evacuated to hospital the same night, when it was found necessary later to amputate his arm.it is presumed gas gangrene had set in, causing his death.... |
photo from Watford Observer photo: Rodney Gibson photo:Rodney Gibson
The battalion were attacking LONG TRENCH around that time
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