Royal Field Artillery, 17th Division Ammunition Column
Died of Pneumonia on Wednesday, 30th October 1918
Aged 30
Ernest was born in Great Ashfield in 1888 (Stow Q3-1888 4A:699) son of Walter Nathaniel and Jane Francis REDIT (nee ESLICK ).
1891 census...Aged 2, Ernest was at Badwell Green with his father Walter REDIT [42] a blacksmith, born Badwell Ash; his mother Janet F [44] born St. Day, Cornwall; sisters Lettie [13] and Florence [7]; brothers Bertie [9], George [6] and Arthur [4]. All the children are recorded as born in Badwell Ash.
1901 census...Aged 12, a domestic gardener, he was still at the same address with his parents and brother George, an agricultural labourer
1911 census...He not so far been identified in the 1911 census. His parents were at The Green, Badwell Ash still and his wife to be was in Great Barton with her mother.
He married Amelia Mary LAST from Great Barton in Bury St. Edmunds in Q2-1911
He was especially enlisted in Braintree as a shoeing smith.
Etaples was the base for many hospitals. There is no telling in the absence of his Army records where Ernest was when becoming ill. His widow's addresses after his death were either "Langmarche" Rayne Road, Braintree, or 49 Wheatley Avenue, Braintree. (1928)
Ernest Redit is buried in Etaples, grave XXI:E:23 and also commemorated on the Braintree Memorial
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
Northamptonshire Regiment, 6th Battalion
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 7th August 1918
Aged 19
Arthur was born in Badwell Ash in 1899 (Stow Q2-1899 4A:892) son of George and Sarah Anne ROSE (nee SMITH)
1901 census...Aged 2, he was at Wesley Way, Hunston with his mother Sarah A ROSE [31] born Badwell Ash; sister Ellen [13] born Badwell Ash; brothers George [10] and Ephraim [8] both born in Hunston, sister Alice [6] and brother Eldred [4] both born in Hunston and grandfather Robert ROSE [73] born in Badwell Ash. His father, George ROSE [32] ,Badwell Ash born shepherd, was at Dairy Farm,Hunston
1911 census...Aged 12, he was at White Horse Yard, Badwell Ash with his parents; sisters Ellen and Alice, brothers George, Ephraim and Eldred who were all farm labourers; and new siblings, sister Florence [10] and brother Reginald [8] both born in Hunston.
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
24 of the battalion were killed that day in the Ancre-Somme area . There is this very brief entry in the war diary (thanks to Greame Clarke)
War Diary says
"4.40am. In conjunction with 11th Royal Fusiliers on right, "B" and "D" Companies attacked in two waves and recaptured original front line. During the day the enemy made repeated counter attacks.
4.30pm. Enemy captured Lewis gun post immediately south of Bray-Corbie road, the whole team being killed. A platoon of "B" Company re-established the line."
That was the sum total of comment about 12 hours of fighting !.
Courtesy of a relative we have this letter from the padre Rev H B Cole:-
"9th Aug 1918, Dear Mrs Rose,
This letter brings you bad news I fear. Your son Arthur was found this morning lying dead by the side of the road where Wednesday/Thursday's battle was in progress & was brought back for burial by an officer who found him there, hit in both legs & in other ways damaged. I happened to be passing the cemetery at the time, & arranged for his funeral: none of his companions could be present, but I hope it may be some consolation to you to know that he received reverent burial and that his grave will be carefully marked and tended. I am sending his papers that were in his pockets in 2 packets, & his belt and handkerchief via a third. His Pay Book will be forwarded to you through the War Office. In his letter he had made a will leaving all he possessed to you. In his book I see your address is given as "Long Thurlow" -not as your recent letters give another address, I use that for this: but the War Office will write to you at the old one: so I should advise the Post Office at Long Thurlow, if you have not already done so, of the change. I am writing to your other son, whose address I have on one of his letter, to tell him of his brother’s death.
Please accept my very real sympathy with you in your bereavement, and believe me Yours truly H Basil Cole 94 S.R; R.G.A.; B.E.F."
Arthur Rose is buried in Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension, grave 2:B:17
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
