Ernest Albert Gay
Memorial: Kingswood - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 4280
Parents: Albert Edward and Agnes Emily Gay
Home address: 18 Bright Street, Kingswood, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Bootmaker
Date of birth: 1894
Place of birth: Kingswood, Bristol
Date of death: 27/03/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France and commemorated on Kingswood Holy Trinity Memorial and Kingswood Methodist Memorial and Kingswood Boys school Memorial
Age: 21
Further information:
Ernest was born in Kingswood, the son of a bootmaker and the eldest of two brothers.
Ernest's battalion (the 1st/6th) was mobilised to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, on 30th March 1915 and fought with the 48th Division in various actions on the Western Front. Ernest was killed in action a year later and buried not far from the frontline. His battalion were not taking part in a battle on the day of his death and he died when he was shot through the head whilst on duty at a sentry post. His death was a result of the ongoing trench warfare which accounted for 300 soldier deaths per day. His commanding officer wrote that “He was one of the most promising men in the company and his good work would have very shortly been recognised by promotion.”
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/
Kingswood Heritage Museum