In Bucquoy Road Cemetery, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 4456205 Private Ernest Redfern Heathcote serving with the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 20/05/1940.
Ernest Redfern Heathcote was born on the 29th November 1911, the youngest son of seven children to father John Heathcote, born August 1884, and his wife Gertrude nee Redfern, Heathcote, born 29th August 1885, died 1955. They were married in 1905.
The other children were: –
- Ida Redfern Heathcote, born 27th October 1905, died 19th August 1989, she married a Robert Stalley, born 7th March 1907, died 6th August 1973, on the 25th January 1930. In 1939, they were residing at 953 Bolton Road, Bradford with two children. They emigrated to New Zealand and both died in New Zealand.
- William Heathcote, born 15th May 1909, died 1980. He married in 1937 a Martha Lote, born 7th September 1916, died 31st May 1990. In 1939, Martha was residing at 10 Bertha Street, Sedgefield. No mention of her husband in 1939.
- Ernest Heathcote, born January 1911.
- Edith F. Heathcote, born May 1914.
- Richard Heathcote, born 16th September 1916, died 1985.
- Lena Gertrude Heathcote, born 28th February 1920, died 6th December 1985. She married a Richard Dransfield, born 23rd September 1922, died 11th August 1971, in 1948. In 1939, they were residing at 29 Brunch, Ferryhill, Co Durham.
In 1921, the family were residing t22 William Street, Merrington Lane. The father was a Miner at the Dean and Chapter Colliery at Ferryhill operated by Bolckow Vaughan & Co.
Ernest Redfern Heathcote enlisted into the Territorial Army on the 28th May 1939 at Spennymoor. Army number 4456205, rank private, residing at 11 Back South View, Kirk Merrington with his wife Annie nee Marshall, born 11th March 1916, who he married on the 8th May 1937 at Bishop Auckland. Ernest was posted into the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 28th May. On the 3rd September 1939 he is transferred into the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He disemarks for France on the 24th April 1940. He initially is reported missing. His date of death was 20th May 1940. Read the 10th Battalion DLI War Diary. This was the date of the Battles of FICHEUX and MERCATEL
His wife then moved to a new address, as they were residing at 33 Back Hume Street, Stockton-On-Tees, Spennymoor, Co Durham. There were two children, Enid Heathcote, born 21st August 1937 and one other redacted.
In 1911, the family were residing at 31 Chapel Street, but by 1921 they were residing at 22 William Street. The father died before 1939, he was working at the Dean and Chapter Colliery at Ferryhill as a Hewer. His widowed wife in 1939 was residing at 29 Brunell, Ferryhill, Co Durham with her Daughter.
In 1939, the Secretary of State for War, Hore Belisha. appealed for recruitment to double the size of the Territorial Army, from thirteen to twenty six divisions. Each Battalion was asked to double its recruitment and throw off a second line battalion. As a result the 10th Battalion was formed from the 6th Battalion, [the 8th raised the 11th Battalion, (2nd September 1939, Battalion Orders issued), and the 9th Battalion raised the 12th Battalion which was transferred to the Black Watch, and became a Battalion of that Regiment, 1st Tyneside Scottish].
He was reported as missing between the 10th May and the 31st May 1940. On the 20th May 1940, the date he died, the Battles of Ficheux and Mercatel were in progress. See war diary entries.
His headstone inscription reads :-For Ever In Our Thoughts
Sources: The British Newspaper Archive: The Western Front Association; Brenda McMahon; 70th Brigade; War Diaries; The Faithful Sixth Harry Moses; Wartime Memories Project; The National Archives; Ministry of Defence; John Dixon;
Ernest Heathcote is remembered at Kirk Merrington on K26.01 and at Spennymoor on S131.02, S131.04, and also at Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 24. Where his date of death is recorded incorrectly as the 1st May 1940.
