Ernest Thompson

Service number: 18592 | Rank: Private | Regiment: Norfolk Regiment

Died of wounds, July 31, 1916, in Flanders.

Buried at ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.

Husband of E. M. Thompson, of South Acre, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ERNEST …

Ernest was born to a Brandon bricklayer named Henry Thompson, and Ernest also became a bricklayer. He married Evelyn May on July 26th 1913 and they had a son, Phillip.

Not much is known of Ernest once he enlisted but it seems he was in the same battalion as many other Brandon lads and this would indicate he joined the army at the outbreak of war. At some point in July he was seriously wounded, and this is probably in the attack on Delville Wood where Herbert Grass met his end. Ernest’s wounds were severe and he did not recover and a week later, just after his 3rd wedding anniversary, he died. He was aged 32 and his wife, who was then living at South Acre, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, was notified of his death.