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24903 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
(3rd Battalion on the original Roll of Honour)
Ernest was born in 1887 in Long Melford, the son of Frederick John and Emma Albon. His father was employed as a cocoa mat weaver when the family lived in Back Lane, Long Melford. They moved to Sudbury to 5 Bridge Foot and then Alston’s Yard at 93/94 Cross Street. In 1911 Ernest was employed as a ‘cattle drover’ and his father was employed in the malting industry.
Ernest enlisted in Sudbury and served with the Suffolk Regiment. The German Army launched their Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) on 21 March 1918. This was a vast attack along the whole Somme sector front with the aim to destroy the British Army. The Germans advanced quickly and deeply with heavy losses for the Allies. The battalion which formed part of 76th Brigade, 3rd Division fought at the Battle of the Lys in April 1918 and in August it was one of five Suffolk battalions that took part in the final Allied offensive towards victory.
Ernest was killed in action on the 30 August 1918 and is buried in Ecoust-St. Mein British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in March 2014
Ernest’s older brother Frederick John lost his life serving with the Suffolk Regiment; he is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
Ernest was originally missing from the CWGC records. The Western Front Association has been working on a vast project – ‘In From the Cold’ - to get missing names and incorrect information amended. The information from this research helped to ensure Ernest is now listed correctly on the CWGC website
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