In Memory of

Private Ernest Thompson

11488
8th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 27th December 1916 Age 37

Ernest lived with his parents, William and Emma, at 116, Mercer Street, Newton, though he was born in Croft. The 1901 census has Ernest as a "general labourer" but, prior to joining up in August 1914, he worked at the Golborne Paper Works. The census also records brothers George and Samuel. and sisters Elizabeth and Liley.

According to the obituary in the NEG of January 26, 1917, Ernest was in France for a year and eight months before he was "shot through the head by a stray bullet from the enemy's trenches". The news of his death was conveyed to his parents in a letter from Lance-Corporal R. Molloy of A Co. 8th South Lancashires.

Ernest is buried in London Rifle Brigade Cemetery, Ploegsteert, which is fifteen kilometres south of Ieper.

Whalley-Kelly says of the 8th Battalion, "Thus December came with nothing of importance to record so far as the Battalion was concerned, although the bitter weather, constant patrolling and work on the defences combined to throw a great strain on all ranks."