Ernest R Coole was born in Oswestry and baptised on 6 December 1889. His father was John, an artist and drawing master, his mother was Emma. Both were originally from Somerset. Ernest was the middle of three children with an elder brother, John and a younger sister Winifred. The family home was at Laburnum House, 28 Victoria Road, Oswestry. His father died in 1904, they continued to live on Victoria Road, with his mother taking in boarders. By the time of the war she had moved to 41 Ferrers Road. In 1911 Ernest was working as a clerk for Cambrian Railway at the station at Talgarth, Powys and living on New Street as a boarder with the village baker.

Ernest enlisted in the Army Ordnance Corps (Pte 07533), it is not known when but he went over to France on 30 October 1915. In January 1918 he was posted to 2/2 Bn Royal Fusiliers. This was at a time of reorganisation of the army. It is possible he had been in 2/1 Bn RF, which was disbanded and men transferred to 2/2 Bn. Ernest was killed in action on 21 March 1918, the opening day of Operation Michael, the first phase of the Kaiser Offensive. The battalion’s Brigade was holding a 500 yards long front opposite the village of La Fère with their right flank abreast the River Oise. During the first enemy assault, despite a desperate defence, the battalion was forced back and withdrew to the St Quentin Canal. Many men were casualties or were captured with only 40 other ranks reaching the Canal. Ernest’s body was lost and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme. His name is also on the Cambrian Railway Memorial, Cae Glas Park and at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

KIA same day/action Private 69728 William Davies, Royal Fusiliers posted to 2 /2 Bn London Regiment. KIA 21 March 1918, Pozieres Memorial (unknown)

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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