Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Ernest was the youngest son of John Heathcote and Gertrude (nee Redfern) who married in 1905. The couple had 3 children together. John’s siblings were Ida and William. John was born at Spennymoor in 1911. The family lived at 31 Chapel Street Spennymoor at that time. His father was a coal hewer.
Ernest married Annie Marshall in 1937.
Ernest has no enlistment date but it was probably in the summer of 1939. He was reported missing between 10/5/1940 – 31/05/1940. On the date it is assumed he went missing the Battles of Ficheux and Mercatel were in progress.
His headstone inscription reads :-For Ever In Our Thoughts
Ernest Heathcote is remembered at Kirk Merrington on K26.01 and at Spennymoor on S131.02 and S131.04
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 24
