Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ernest Coleman was born at Leeds, Yorkshire, May 13th 1894 and baptised at St. Simon, Leeds, June 6th by his parents John Frederick Coleman born 1865 at Plumstead, Norfolk and Annie Elizabeth Braggs native of Leeds born 1866, who were married in the district of Leeds in 1885. He was their eldest son, one of 7 children of whom only 3 survived, 2 sons and a daughter. In 1911 they were living at Killingbeck Lodge, Seacroft near Leeds where his father was employed as a french polisher at a cabinet works, Elsie (25) was working for a boot and shoe manufacturer as a machine hand, Ernest (16) was a groom employed by a publican, Cecil (12) the youngest was a scholar.
At the time of his enlistment the family were living at 27, George Street, Pelaw, near Gateshead, County Durham, Ernest was 21 years old and employed as a farm labourer. He was also employed for a time at Pelaw Cabinet Works, owned by the Cooperative Wholesale Society. He enlisted at Felling, December 10th 1915, assigned as Private 28158 to the Durham Light Infantry, joining the regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he was posted to the 12th Battalion and then moved to the Bullswater Camp for training. The troops were still wearing their own civilian clothes but were eventually issued with uniforms and in late October 100 obsolete rifles arrived. By late November, rain had made Bullswater tented camp unusable, the 12th and 13th Battalions moved to Malplaquet Barracks in Aldershot, later to Ashford in Kent, and finally to Bramshott in Hampshire. In February 1915, khaki uniforms and leather equipment finally arrived and by July 1915 rifle training was completed and they were ready for overseas service.
On August 26th 1915 the 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, as part of the British Expeditionary Force attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, landed in France and within days was sent into the trenches. The battalion, however, was spared the disastrous Battle of Loos and spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916 in and out of the trenches at Armentieres and Souchez.
In late June 1916, the 23rd Division was moved south to the Somme, where the 12th Battalion entered the fighting July 7th at La Boiselle. Private Coleman was transferred to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 64th Brigade, 21st Division, July 10th 1916. They saw action at Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th and at Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd 1916.
Private 28158 Ernest Coleman Durham Light Infantry was declared missing September 16th 1916 and that same day declared to be dead. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names of servicemen from Britain and South Africa inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, which commemorates those who fell in the sector between 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. He was 22 years old and single.
His mother received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother Cecil Coleman born at Leeds, November 9th 1898 was employed as a fitter when he enlisted, July 2nd 1918 for the duration of the hostilities as Able Seaman M32520. He served at the shore barracks at Chatham assigned to HMS Pembroke II July 2nd-October 14th 1918, transferred to HMS Resolution one of five Revenge-class battleships the following day. The Resolution did not see any combat during WW1 and Cecil was demobilised March 19th 1919.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ernest Coleman is remembered at Heworth as Colman on H92.03 and at Pelaw on P24.01 where it says he worked in the Pelaw Cabinet Works
