Sapper 23215, 517th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Attached to 47th (2nd London) Division.  Died 23/03/1918, age 24.

 

The fourth of eight surviving children of George Rowe and Edith nee Jennings of 305 High Street, Walton. George was working as an apprentice painter for a builder in 1911.

 

Ernest joined the 517 Field & Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers who from April 1915 were with the 47th Division. From his medal card he is likely to have joined the Armed Forces prior to the war. He first saw active service in France 23/6/15 for which he earned the 1914-1915 Star. Ernest would have been on the front line for some of the most horrendous battles of the war - Battle of Loos 1915,   the German Attack at Vimy Ridge 1916, the Third Battles of Ypres 1917. It was during the Battle of St Quentin 21 - 23 March 1918 that Ernest was reported missing. Following an inquiry on 2 Aug 1918 and 20 Nov 1918  Ernest was officially considered dead. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial Bay 1, indicating that no body was recovered for burial.