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 2561 1st Battalion, (King’s) Dragoon Guards
Ernest Sore was born in Westgate Street, Long Melford on 21 March 1882. The son of Arthur George and Eliza Sore (née Sergeant). His father was employed as a brewer’s labourer and the family lived in Broom Street in Great Cornard, before they later moved to 82 East Street in Sudbury. Ernest had six brothers and three sisters.
Ernest enlisted with the Essex Regiment as a militiaman in September 1899 (formerly 6126); he transferred as a regular soldier on 6 November 1900 and served with the 12th Lancers. His service record describes him as 5ft 5ins in height, weighing 109lbs with a 31 inch chest. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. Prior to enlisting he was a labourer for Mr. Allen of Bures. Ernest was also a Scoutmaster and one of the first to obtain the Royal Warrant.
Ernest left the army but re-enlisted in Sudbury at the outbreak of war. He first served in ‘a theatre of war’ in France on 11 November 1914. All his brothers saw service during the war: the eldest served in India, another was later discharged, one was a Drum Major, one served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and another who served in Egypt. His brother Horace lost his life serving with the Royal Engineers in 1917. His cousin Ezekiel Thomas Sore from Hartest lost his life serving as a Drummer with the Norfolk Regiment in 1916 fighting in Mesopotamia.
Ernest served in a cavalry regiment; at the outbreak of war it was based in India and was sent back to France in November 1914 to serve as 1st (Indian) Cavalry Division and saw action at the Battle of Festubert (15 – 25 May 1915).
Ernest died on 3 June 1915. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Menin Gate in April 2006, April 2009 and October 2012.
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