WW1 Casualty: Private 204079 Ernest William Greenall - Private 204079 Ernest William Greenall
| Unit/Regiment |
2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
10/04/1918 |
Age at Death |
37 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Ploegsteert Memorial
Panel 6 and 7 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of William Henry and Ann Greenall; husband of Susannah Platt (formerly Greenall), of 14, Fisher St., Sutton Oak, Lancs. |
| Census Details |
1901 - 21 years old 'Packing Case Maker' Ernest W and brother William H (19) are living at 65 Queen Street, St Helens with remarried mother and family: Robert Platt (52), Ann Platt (46)
John Platt (9), Sylvester W Platt (6).
Roberts brother-in-law Edward Foster (31) is also at the address.
1911 - Sees 30 years old 'Packing Case Maker' Ernest W and brother William H (28) living at 7 Market Place, Prescot with step family - the Platts: James Platt (42), mother Ann Platt (56) and step siblings John Platt (19), Sylvester Walker Platt (16).
AVL 1918: 14, Fisher St., Sutton Oak, St Helens. |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth Registered Q1/1880, Prescot, 8b, 731
Marriage to Susannah Hughes, Q2/1915, Prescot, 8b, 1402 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
St Helens |
| Enlisted |
Warrington |
| Resided |
Prescot |
| How Died |
Killed in Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P132 |
Service DetailsAt the beginning of 1918, the 2nd Battalion were located in the Lagnicourt sector, opposite the notorious Hindenberg Line. In February, owing to the shortage of manpower, the 8th (Service) Battalion ceased to exist, its men being transferred into the 2nd. Battalion.
It was clear that there was additional activity in the German lines, and a corresponding increase in the activity of German aircraft. The German offensive finally began on the 21st March and the battalion was in the thick of the fighting until the night of the 26th, when they were withdrawn, marching to billets at Lanches which they reached on the 28th.
In the 5 days of the initial offensive, they had lost 13 officers and 360 other ranks, killed, wounded and missing. Upon the arrival at Lanches of reinforcements of 15 officers and 343 other ranks, the battalion was reorganised with 4 companies, 'A' to 'D'.
The battalion was ordered to replace the Australians at Ploegsteert and by 2nd April they occupied trenches some 2,000 yards east of the ruined village. They remained here until the 8th, when they marched back to the Rosignol rest area. However early the next morning, heavy shellfire was heard to the south, towards Armentieres and word was received that the enemy had broken through. The battalion was ordered to stand to, ready to move at a moment's notice.
The battalion remained on stand by in support of the 8th Border Regiment and 11th Cheshires up to midnight on the 9th.
The next morning the Germans advanced towards Ploegsteert and the battalion was ordered to occupy a position on the high ground, 2,000 yards west of the village. At 3.30 p.m. it was decided that a counter attack against Ploegsteert should take place, timed for 5 p.m. The attack was reasonably successful, but was held up by a large number of skillfully handled German machine guns.
Private Greenall was killed in this action. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Ernest Greenall's Medal Index Card
Ernest Greenall's inscription on the Ploegsteert Memorial
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