Ernest Goldsbury

War Service

In the early months of World War 1 Ernest enlisted into the 7th Battalion King’s Own Rifle Corps Regiment. After training in Aldershot, Grayshott and Bordon in the United Kingdom Ernest landed with his battalion in Boulogne, France on 19 May 1915.
In July 1915 the 7th Battalion King’s Own Rifle Corps was involved in action during the Battle of Hooge: named after the village where the action took place. The Germans launched a surprise attack at 03:15hrs on 30 July 1915 – using the flame-thrower for the first time against the British. The effect on seeing this weapon, spewing flames and smoke up to 25 yards (23 metres) must have been terrifying for the men. Although the British line was initially pushed back, the line was stabilised later that night by the 8th Rifle Brigade and the 7th Battalion King’s Own Rifle Corps. In two days of severe fighting the British lost 31 officers and 751 men of other ranks.
Precise details of Ernest’s time in the army are not available and even information about how he died is conflicting. One source indicates that Ernest died of his wounds on 30 July 1915 – however if that had been the case one could assume that there would have been a grave. Perhaps this was the case and Ernest’s grave was just one of hundreds destroyed by further action later in the war, we will never know. Both sources record that Ernest fell on 30 July 1915 – he was 21 years old.
Ernest Goldsbury is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The Memorial is at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (known today as Leper) on the road to Menin. The Memorial bears the names of 55,000 men of the armies of the British Commonwealth who fell in Belgium, most of them in the Ypres Salient, but whose final resting place is unknown. To this day a remembrance ceremony takes place every evening. Prior to the start of the ceremony the road through the gateway is closed in both directions and buglers move to the centre of the Hall of Memory and sound the Last Post.
Frederick, Ernest’s older brother, also enlisted when he was 25 years old. Frederick joined the Army Service Corps on 18 February 1916 as a steam lorry driver. By the time of his enlistment Frederick had sadly lost his wife of a few months and his younger brother Ernest. Frederick survived the war and returned home in March 1919.

Family Life

Ernest was born in 1894 in Guisley, West Yorkshire to William and Sarah Ann Goldsbury (nee Hooper). William and Sarah Ann were married in Droitwich, Worcester in 1888 and at that time William was a railway signalman. The following year Beatrice was born and shortly after her birth the family moved to live in Yorkshire in around 1900. Their new home was 3 Belle View Terrace, Guisley. While William and Sarah Ann were living in Guisley there were four more additions to the family: Frederick was born in 1891, Edith in 1892, Ernest in 1894 and finally Lily in 1896.
By 1901 the family had moved to live at 12 Pope Street, Altofts.
Between 1901 and 1911 there were no more additions to the family but they had moved down the street to live at 2 Pope Street, Altofts.
At the age of 16 years Ernest was still living with his family, however, he was now working as a stationary engine-lad at the colliery – possibly at Pope and Pearson’s West Riding Colliery.

Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres