Ernest Henry Firks
Memorial: Kingswood - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: East Kent Regiment
Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Silver War Badge, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Drummer L/7785
Parents: James and Elizabeth Firks
Home address: 85 Downend Road, Kingswood, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Soldier
Date of birth: 1889
Place of birth: St. Paul's, Bristol
Date of death: 17/09/1914
Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Vauxbuin French National Cemetery, Aisne, France and commemorated on Kingswood Holy Trinity Memorial.
Age: 24
Further information:
Ernest was born in St. Paul's, Bristol, the son of a bootmaker with an older brother and sister and a younger brother. Ernest enlisted in The Buffs in 1903 at the age of 14 as a boy drummer. In 1911 he was stationed in India and Singapore.
Ernest's battalion was mobilised to France on 4th August 1914 and less than six weeks after arriving Ernest died during the First Battle of Aisne (13 Sep 1914 – 28 Sep 1914). The outcome of the battle was indecisive and at a cost to the British of 13,500 killed or wounded. Ernest was originally buried at
Oulchy-le-Château and after the armistice his body was transferred to its current resting place.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/