| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Private Ernest Cherry, aged 21, died of illness in France 8 Feb 1917. He was serving with the Highland Light Infantry when he was hospitalised at Etaples, with bronchitis and dysentery. He is buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery in northern France. Ernest was awarded the war and Victory Medals.
Ernest's medal cards state he served in the 15th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, the Commonwealth War Grave Commission state it was the 17th. Both were part of 97th Brigade and 32nd Division and were two of the Glasgow Pals battalions raised in the autumn of 1914. The 15th were also known as the 1st Glasgow or the “Glasgow Tramways Battalion”, the 17th as the 3rd Glasgow or the “Glasgow Commercials”. Ernest had a Scottish connection through his father who was born in Gourock on Clydeside. Ernest’s grandparents originally came from Liverpool and lived in Wednesbury in the Midlands before moving to Scotland; then moving to Hull. Both father and grandfather were boiler makers.
Ernest was born in Beverley 30 Apr 1895 to William Moulsdale Cherry and Ann Cherry. William worked at the Beverley shipyard, as a ship plate riveter. Ernest was one of four children and living on Swinemoor Lane for many years before settling at 6 Teddington Villas, Holmechurch Lane. Ernest attended St Nicholas Primary School and then the Beverley Wesleyan School, leaving aged 14. In the 1911 he was working as a rope maker’s assistant, he later worked at one of the local tanyards before enlisting. Ernest was unmarried.
Ernest is remembered on the Holmechurch Lane Street Shrine, on the Hengate Memorial in Beverley and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |