Pte
Ernest Walter Fearnley
Informations sur naissance
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Année de naissance: 1890 |
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Lieu de naissance: Northwich, Cheshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Force armée: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 1504 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: London (City), Middlesex, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Unités: — King Edward's Horse, 1st Bn. |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 31/07/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Ferdinand Farm, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 27 |
Mémorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panneau: 5 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 2
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Lieu d'enrôlement |
Mon histoire
Private Ernest Walter Fearnley, born around 1890 in Norwich, Norfolk, served with the 1st King Edward’s Horse during the Battle of Passchendaele. He had enlisted together with his younger brother, William. They both served with the 1st King Edward’s Horse. In July 1917 all Squadrons were positioned near Watou, under direct command of the XVIII corps.
“A” Squadron was instructed to control traffic. “B” Squadron came under orders of the 39th Division and “C” Squadron under the 51st Division. The following days were spent preparing for the operation on 31st July. The 39th Division would be on the right of the 51st Division and would attack the village of St Julien, so at 10 pm, 30th July, “B” Squadron moved to Hospital Farm. The 51st Division would be on the left and advanced towards Maison Bulgare. “C “Squadron moved an hour later to Trois Tours.
As the 39th Division met its objective with relative ease, there had been no need to deploy “B” squadron during the operation. “C” Squadron on the other hand, was called upon and went via Below Farm to Gournier Farm, where they arrived around 11am. At 12.30 pm the 1/6th Seaforths called on the “C” Squadron after they had crossed the Steenbeek stream. The squadron mounted and hurried past Vanackert Farm to Ferdinand Farm, where they veered left to cross the Steenbeek. Just before they could cross the stream, heavy machine-gun fire was opened from Maison Du Rasta.
The Squadron dismounted and dug in along the road to Ferdinand Farm. At 11.30 p.m. an order was sent that said that the horses and as many men as could be spared were to return to Essex Farm. Only 10 men and the Hotchkiss gunners were left at Ferdinand Farm. At 8 a.m. they also withdrew and at 11 a.m. the whole squadron was sent to Essex Farm, where they mounted and returned to Watou.
Private Ernest Walter Fearnley was presumably killed near Ferdinand Farm, when “C” Squadron tried to cross the Steenbeek. He was the only man from the other ranks who was killed in action on the 31st. Captain William Henry Dillon was also killed during the operation, Major Swann was wounded and 2nd Lieutenant Brakell went missing. Seven other ranks were wounded, two were injured and 51 horses were either killed or went missing. Ernest has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. His brother, William, was killed nearly a month later, while working on a road near Ypres.
“A” Squadron was instructed to control traffic. “B” Squadron came under orders of the 39th Division and “C” Squadron under the 51st Division. The following days were spent preparing for the operation on 31st July. The 39th Division would be on the right of the 51st Division and would attack the village of St Julien, so at 10 pm, 30th July, “B” Squadron moved to Hospital Farm. The 51st Division would be on the left and advanced towards Maison Bulgare. “C “Squadron moved an hour later to Trois Tours.
As the 39th Division met its objective with relative ease, there had been no need to deploy “B” squadron during the operation. “C” Squadron on the other hand, was called upon and went via Below Farm to Gournier Farm, where they arrived around 11am. At 12.30 pm the 1/6th Seaforths called on the “C” Squadron after they had crossed the Steenbeek stream. The squadron mounted and hurried past Vanackert Farm to Ferdinand Farm, where they veered left to cross the Steenbeek. Just before they could cross the stream, heavy machine-gun fire was opened from Maison Du Rasta.
The Squadron dismounted and dug in along the road to Ferdinand Farm. At 11.30 p.m. an order was sent that said that the horses and as many men as could be spared were to return to Essex Farm. Only 10 men and the Hotchkiss gunners were left at Ferdinand Farm. At 8 a.m. they also withdrew and at 11 a.m. the whole squadron was sent to Essex Farm, where they mounted and returned to Watou.
Private Ernest Walter Fearnley was presumably killed near Ferdinand Farm, when “C” Squadron tried to cross the Steenbeek. He was the only man from the other ranks who was killed in action on the 31st. Captain William Henry Dillon was also killed during the operation, Major Swann was wounded and 2nd Lieutenant Brakell went missing. Seven other ranks were wounded, two were injured and 51 horses were either killed or went missing. Ernest has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. His brother, William, was killed nearly a month later, while working on a road near Ypres.
Rapports avec d'autres militaires 1
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William George Fearnley
Brother |
Sources 5
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 29-31. Sources utilisées |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources utilisées |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1612104/fearnley,-/ Sources utilisées |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/cavalry-regiments/the-1st-and-2nd-king-edwards-horse/ Sources utilisées |
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War Diary https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Autre référence |