Ernest Couzens

This name is on St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11

E. Couzens (Ernest Couzens)

Service no 703071

Private, London Regiment, 23rd Battalion

Died of wounds age 19 on 3 April 1918

Son of Ernest and Eliza Couzens, of Vauxhall, London.

Remembered at Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, France and at St Mark's Church

A son dies and a father sets off for warIt is not difficult to imagine the mixture of dread, fear and grief that Eliza Couzens probably felt in August 1918 when faced with the news that her husband was going to the front. Just over four months previously, she and her husband had received a telegram telling her the worst, her eldest son and her husband's namesake had died of wounds to his back at the 3rd Canadian Staitonary Hospital at Doullens.Ernest Jr, born 5 August 1898, and aged 18 and working as a motor trimmer's apprentice (probably with his father) signed up on 7 August. The records state that he was 5 feet 4 inches with a 33 inch chest which he could expand by 2 inches. After periods at home and training at Winchester, during which his only misdemeanour was to be late for parade one morning (he was confined to barracks for four days in punishment), he served with his regiment between 18 August 1917 until his demise in the casualty clearing station. His effects were duly sent home: letters, photos, religious book, cards, photo case and comb.

To add to the family's woes, Ernest's younger brother, George Henry, was also serving - with the 2nd Battalion of the Queen's.

Now Eliza's husband and father of their six children (reduced abruptly to five by the war) had been conscripted to join the Army Service Corps as a motor cleaner and driver. The Army was clearly utilising his skills as a cab owner, although they made him take a Learner Test in October 1918.

And by November it was over. George and Ernest Sr had survived and returned home, but Ernest Jr was for ever in France.

On 19 January 1920 the Rev John Darlington, the vicar of St Mark's, signed the family's application for a separation allowance or pension. Ernest Sr's pension had already been disallowed by the notoriously hard-hearted pension board. Whether or not they allowed one for the loss of Ernest Jr is, unfortunately, not recorded.