2nd/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Ernest William Wellington was the only son, and youngest of eight children, of Joseph Wellington and Jane Stephens. His siblings were Alice (1879), Rose (1880), Agnes (1882), May (1884), Edith (1885), Margaret (1889), and Jenny Maria (1892)
He was born in Gloucester in 1893 and baptised on 24 September 1893 at All Saints, Gloucester.
On 1 April 1901 he was living with his family at 33 Napier Street, South Hamlet, Gloucester; and on 2 April 1911 he and his sisters Edith and Margaret were at the same address, and he was listed as a baker working from home. His father was also a baker. Ernest remained a bachelor.
Ernest enlisted as a Private on 15 November 1915, and he was 5 feet 6 inches. He went to Army Reserve on 17 November, mobilised on 8 February 1916, and was posted with 3/4th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment on 9 February. He served at home 8 February to 12 August 1916; and then in France 13 August 1916 to 12 February 1918.
He was originally allocated Service Number 5288TF, and in March 1917 the Army decided to renumber all Territorial Force serving men with six digit numbers and Ernest was allocated 201783.
Whilst in action, he suffered from shrapnel wounds that shattered his left elbow on 8 December 1917, and was transferred to UK from Rouen, France on the same day. He was discharged as being physically unfit on 12 February 1918.
He was awarded the British and Victory medals, and the Silver War Badge. The Medal Roll of Honour listed him with Service Number 5288TF, with 201783 being deleted.
At the time of his death, he was listed as Private 201783 of the 2nd/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. He died of pneumonia on 19 October 1918, aged 25, in Churcham. His next of kin was his father Joseph Wellington of Yew Tree Cottage, Churcham. He was buried in a family grave east of St Andrew’s Church, Churcham on 25 October 1918.
Soldiers from Churcham and Bulley, who served in WW1/WW2, are commemorated on a Roll of Honour in the Chapelry of St Michael and All Angels Church, Bulley.
Researched by Baden Russell April 2021