No.G/60081, Private, Ernest William PLUMMER
Aged 20
|
Ernest William Plummer was born in Moulton in 1898, (Newmarket Q4-1898 3B:488), baptised in St. Peter's, Moulton on 13th November 1898, son of Henry and
Annie PLUMMER (née MERKIN).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Brookside, Moulton, with his father Henry PLUMMER [32], farm labourer; his mother Annie [32] ; brothers Harry [9], Albert [5] and Alfred [1 month] and sister Lily [7]. His mother and brother Harry were born in Dalham, the rest of the family were born in Moulton. 1911 census...Aged 13, a scholar, he was still at Brookside with his parents (father now a coal merchant), with brothers Harry and Albert (both labourers and Alfred. Sister Lily was a servant of Charles Pym at Banstead Manor, Cheveley. They were at No. 5 Brookside and Ernest went on to work at Moulton Paddocks. The pension card has the family still at Brookside. His elder brother, Harry emigrated to Canada, joined the Canadian Army in 1915 and was killed in France in October 1916. see here He was a cousin of George PLUMMER see here |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket. Dying of his wounds it cannot be certain exactly where and when he was wounded, but his battalion has just been fighting in the
region of the Polderhoek Chateau. The battalion war diary, from http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/war_diaries/local/3_4Bn_Queens/3_4Bn_Queens_1917/3_4Bn_Queens_1917_11.shtml has the following account 6th. 5th Division attacked POLDERHOEK CHATEAU at 6.30 a.m. unsuccessfully. The enemy heavily shelled our front line in retaliation to our barrage & kept up a desultory bombardment of our back positions all the morning, his accurate shooting on Battalion HQ forcing them to move forward to the Company in support. Hostile stretcher parties were seen moving in the vicinity of Polderhoek Chatuea throughout the day. The enemy were not encountered by our patrols during the night. The left post of 'B' company, garrisoned by 1 Sgt and 6 men disappeared & were probably taken prisoner by the enemy. Casualties Lieut.P A Curtois wounded, 2 OR killed, 12 OR wounded 7 OR missing. 7th. The hostile retaliation to our Army barrage at 5.40 a.m. was not so heavy as hitherto. A very quiet day. Stretcher parties around Polderkoek Chateau were seen during the day. Touch was gained with the 10th Yorkshire Regiment on our left whilst a hostile M.G. was encountered in REUTEL CEMETERY. Battalion HQ at the Company in support were ordered to move by the Brigade to the BUTTE de POLYGON. Lt.Col. K.A.Oswald was awarded the D.S.O. and Capt VF Samuelson and Lieut AB Frost were awarded the M.C. whilst 202962 Sgt W Mort was awarded the D.C.M. by the F.M. C in CEMETERY. Casualties 4 OR wounded 8th. The usual bombardment of our lines by the enemy at dawn. A quiet day. Hostile aeroplanes were active above our sector during the morning. Major Eidlmann and 1 officer & 2 O.R. per company arrived to reconnoitre the line preparatory to relief by the 12/13 Northumberland Fusiliers. Relief commenced at 6 p.m. but owing to the darkness, it was not complete until 12 midnight. The hostile artillery was quiet. Casualties NIL. There is no actual evidence that this is where William Plummer was wounded, but extremely likely.
 
photo; Pierre Vandervelden www.inmemories.com Menin Road then click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
