Ernest Haywood
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was the son of Robert and Dinah Haywood (née Hind)l.Both his parents were born in Kimberley. Robert was born in 1857, the son of Joseph and Maria Haywood. Dinah was born in 1861, the daughter of Joseph and Ruth Hind. They were married in 1879 and had seven children but the eldest died in infancy: Maria b. 1880 d. 1881, Albert birth registered 1882 (J/F/M), Frank b. 1883, George b. 1886 and Ernest b. 1888 who were all born in Kimberley and the two youngest children who were born in Cinderhill, Louisa b. 1893 and Arthur b. 1896. Robert, a coal miner, his wife and their daughter Maria were living with his parents in Greasley in 1881.However, Robert, now a colliery deputy (below ground), and Dinah had moved to 2 Cliff Cottages, Cinderhill, by 1901, where they were living with their six surviving children: Albert and Frank who were both coal miners, George an office boy (lace trade), Ernest, Louisa and Arthur.The family was still at the same address in 1911 but only five of the children were still living at home: George, a fruit merchant's clerk, Ernest, a coal miner hewer, Louisa a dressmaker and Arthur who was still at school. The eldest son Albert was married and living inErnest (27) married Annie Maria Richards (28), the daughter of William Richards, at Christchurch Cinderhill on 24 April 1916; both were living at Ernest's home at The Cliff, Cinderhill. Ernest's occupation was given as 'miner, Serg. Maj. 8th N&D).'Ernest's widow may have still been living with her parents-in-law at The Cliff in 1921 althoughshe later lived in Coventry (CWGC). Ernest's mother died in 1933 and his father in February 1938; Robert Haywood was still living at The Cliff at the time of his death. He had made a Will and probate was awarded to his unmarried daughter Louisa and his son Arthur, a school teacher. Dinah and Robert are buried in the Northern Cemetery, Bulwell.A report in a local newspaper in June 1918 confirming Ernest's death included the information that two brothers (not named) were also serving, one a prisoner of war and the other who had 'just gone to the front.' No military records yet traced although all four brothers would have been eligble on age to serve from August 1914.
Ernest Haywood served initially with 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) (305010 formerly 517). He landed in France with the Battalion on 2 March 1915 and was promoted Company Sergeant Major in the field. (He held the rank at the time his marriage in April 1916). While at Lens (March-July 1917), during the preparation for an attack on Hill 65 (21/22 April), Ernest was 'slightly wounded and had to go back.'The Battalion was at St Elie in July 1917 and from the 23rd of that month was in the St Elie Left sub-sector trenches, where it had its 'longest continuous period of trench warfare.' By early August when the Battalion was in Brigade support in Philosophe, it had 'what was probably the heaviest shelling of billets that we ever experienced ... we were fortunate in escaping without a single casualty.' The Battalion was relieved in the sector on 13 September but then left Fouquieres, where it had been training and refitting, on the 20th, moving up to Mazingarbe and then to the trenches in Hill 70 sector, north of Loos. Several changes in personnel took place just before this, including Comp. Sergt. Major Haywood who 'had also gone home to train for a commission, only to be killed later when serving with another battalion.' According to a newspaper report of his death, Ernest was promoted second-lieutenant in March 1918.Source: 'History of 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919,' (p. 184, pp 198-206) Captain CC Weetman MM CdG.Second Lieutenant Ernest Haywood, D.C.M., served with the 5th Battalion, a Territorial battalion, but was attached to the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment when he was killed in action on 27 May 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France.He was awarded the DCM while serving with the Sherwood Foresters. The citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal was published in the 'London Gazette' on 9th July 1917: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great gallantry in bringing in wounded men under fire, and has at all times set a fine example to his men.'He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.CWGC - History of the Soissons Memorial (extract): 'The original British Expeditionary Force crossed the Aisne in August 1914 a few kilometres west of Soissons, and re-crossed it in September a few kilometres east. For the next three and a half years, this part of the front was held by French forces and the city remained within the range of German artillery. At the end of April 1918, five divisions of Commonwealth forces (IX Corps) were posted to the French 6th Army in this sector to rest and refit following the German offensives on the Somme and Lys. Here, at the end of May, they found themselves facing the overwhelming German attack which, despite fierce opposition, pushed the Allies back across the Aisne to the Marne. Having suffered 15,000 fatal casualties, IX Corps was withdrawn from this front in early July, but was replaced by XXII Corps, who took part in the Allied counter attack that had driven back the Germans by early August and recovered the lost ground. The Soissons Memorial commemorates almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Robert and Dinah Haywood, of The Cliff, Cinder Hill, Nottingham; husband of Annie Maria Haywood, of "Woodside," Arley, Coventry.'Nottingham Evening Post, 10 July 1917: ‘War Honours. Distinguished Conduct and Military Medals. Some Local Awards … 305010 Co. Sergt-Major E Haywood, Notts and Derbyshire Regiment (formerly No. 517). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great gallantry in bringing in wounded men under heavy fire, and has at all times set a fine example to his men.’ (www.brithsnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 19 June 1918: 'Official information has been received by Mrs. E. Haywood, The Cliff, Cinderhill, that her husband, Sec.-Lieut. E. Haywood, D.C.M., is reported missing since May 27th. He went to France with the Sherwood Foresters in February, 1915, and after being promoted to Sergt.-Major, was recommended for a commission, which he received on March 20th last, and was posted to the South Lancashires. He has two brothers who have seen service, one a prisoner in Germany, whilst the other has just gone to the front.' Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
