Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Wheatley Hill: James Pasby
In Wingate Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Sarah Hannah
beloved wife of
Alfred Bushby
of Thornley
who died
8th April 1915
aged 44 years
and of the above
Alfred Bushby Ex Sergt.
who served for 31 years in the D.C.C.
who died 24th August 1922
aged 53 years
Also of
Sergt. Ernest Bushby 18th D.L.I. Pals
son of the above
who fell in action in France
1st Oct. 1918 aged 20 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ernest Bushby, one of 9 children of whom only 7 survived, was the 2nd born of 4 brothers and 5 sisters. His father Alfred Bushby was born at Wood House, Guisborough, Yorkshire, August 22nd 1870 and baptised September 14th. By the age of 21 he had moved to County Durham where he was married, February 2nd 1892 at Staindrop, district of Teasdale, County Durham, to Sarah Hannah Bushby born July 30th 1870 at Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington. Their daughter Lilian was born July 15th 1892 at Staindrop, Florence at Barnard Castle, December 7th 1893 and Alfred Henry, February 7th 1895 at Gainford, Whilst Sarah Hannah was pregnant with their fourth child, Lilian, aged 4-years, died April 20th 1896, two weeks later their daughter Emily was born at Gainford, May 5th 1896. Ernest and his brother James Edward were also born at Gainford 1898 and 1900 respectively, in 1901 the family was living at Porch House, Gainford, County Durham, where Alfred Bushby was a local police constable. Son Frederick was born at Escomb, February 18th 1902 but unfortunately his elder brother James Edward died in 1903 aged 3 years. Sarah Hannah went on to have a further 2 children Evelyn, June 17th 1904 and Gladys May, July 2nd 1909, both born at Thornley, County Durham.
By 1911 they were living in 6 rooms at the Police Station in Thornley, Alfred Bushby was Sergeant of Police, Alfred Henry (16) a stone man below ground at the colliery, Ernest (13), Frederick (9) and Evelyn (7) were at school, infant Gladys May (1) was cared for by her mother, living with them was 29-year-old Police Constable Charles Woodard, native of Norwich, Norfolk.
When war was declared in 1914 Ernest was only 16/17 years of age. He left his employment as a grocer’s assistant and told a lie as regards his age, declaring he was 19 years and 2 months old when he enlisted at West Hartlepool, September 23rd 1914. He was assigned as Private 679 to the Durham Light Infantry joining his regiment at Cocken Hall, October 2nd 1914. Cocken Hall was the home of the Earl of Durham, who had offered his house and land to the war effort. Some of the men were housed in the house the remainder in outbuildings. Trenches were dug in the grounds to simulate life at the front and a firing range was built, their training began in earnest as of October 26th 1914 when the sum of four companies had reached a total of 1004 men.
In November 1914 some 500 men were sent to the Coastal Defences at Hartlepool as there was a clear risk of German naval attacks. The attack came December 16th when a German battle-cruiser shelled the town, 5 of the Durham Pals were amongst the casualties.
In December they left Cocken Hall for Fencehouses, then back in February 1915, returning to Fencehouses in March. In May they went to Ripon via Cramlington where they came under the orders of the 31st Division. Having moved to Fovant in September the 18th Battalion was fully trained and ready to depart. The 18th Battalion departed to Egypt via Liverpool, December 6th 1915, however, Private Bushby was not amongst them, he had been posted to the newly formed 21st (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry when it arrived at Cocken Hall after the departure of the 18th Battalion.
The 21st moved to a tented camp in Wensleydale where it was joined by the 20th Battalion and later moved to Catterick. Private Bushby was re-posted to the 18th battalion D.L.I. January 6th 1916 and joined his regiment at the front, April 6th 1916, which having been withdrawn from Egypt had arrived on the Western Front in France, March 11th 1916. The 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was in the Arras sector until the end of the offensive, May 16th 1917, during which time Private Bushby had been promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. They participated at the capture of Oppy Wood, June 28th 1917, remaining in the sector. Ernest was promoted to Corporal, April 20th 1918 and Sergeant, September 29th 1918, the opening day of the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, which raged until October 10th 1918.
Sergeant 679 Ernest Bushby was killed in action during the Battle of St. Quentin, October 1st 1918, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades, a cross bearing his name and military details marking the spot.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments smaller concentrations and isolated graves were brought into larger cemeteries. The remains of Sergeant Bushby were found at map reference Sh. 36. C. 4, a. 55, exhumed, and brought into Strand Military Cemetery, 12.5 kilometres from Ypres, Belgium, December 24th 1919 and re-buried with military honours. Sergeant 679 Ernest Bushby Durham Light Infantry is at rest grave VIII. N. 9. At the time of his demise in 1918 he was 20 years of age and single.
His father Alfred received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest’s brother Alfred Henry Bushby also enlisted during WW1 and served as Private 17877 Gloucester Regiment.
Alfred Bushby died, August 24th 1922 at 10, Eden Street, Tynemouth, Northumberland, aged 53 years. Sarah Hannah had died 8th April 1915.
It should be noted the CWGC have, in error, listed Sergeant Bushby as 30 years of age.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ernest Bushby is remembered at Thornley on T54.02 and in T54.06
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 269
