Soldier Record
Ernest Durham
Contributed by: Andrew Wright, on 2008-11-12
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | Ernest |
| Surname | Durham |
| Year of Birth | 1897 |
| Year of Death | 1915 |
| Regiment | York and Lancaster Regiment |
| Place of Wartime Residence | Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
Ernest's Story
Ernest Durham was underage when he volunteered for service. He arrived in France in early May 1915 and was one of 487 men rushed to reinforce the 1st Bn Yorks & Lancs during the Battle of Frezenberg (2nd Battle of Ypres) on the night of May 7-8.
Died on his 18th birthday from wounds sustained during the 2nd Battle of Ypres
On 8th May at 11:45 a.m. the Battalion was ordered forward , reaching support trenches at 5 p.m. Here they started taking enemy shelling but were ordered to attack enemy positions at 8 p.m. Some men reached enemy trenches but were immediately bayoneted. Virtually all officers were killed and a further attack was called off by the Battalion Brigadier when he learned that there were only eighty three men left under the command of a Sergeant.
The following day a Lieutenant with seventeen men managed to make their way back.
Ernest Durham's war had lasted a matter of hours in the front line. He died of bayonet wounds on 9th May, his eighteenth birthday.
No additional memories have been submitted