Ernest Edward Kelham
Ernest was born in 1886 in Leic. and was baptised at St. Saviour’s Church Leicester. His parents were John Alfred Kelham (labourer) and Sarah Jane (nee White), a nurse.
Ernest was one of 4 children I know of but as his parents were married in 1867 and the first child was born in 1876 in India there may have been more.
Henrietta Sarah Elizabeth 1876 Madras
Lucy Amy 1880 Bengal
Rosa May 1882 Kent
Ernest Edward 1886 Leicester
In 1891 census the family lived at 37 Edwyn St., Leicester and later that year John died, aged 49, leaving Edward aged 5.
In 1901 census they were at 47 Willow Brook Rd. and Ernest, aged 14, was a boot and shoe maker.
By 1911 Sarah was living at 57 Baggrave St. with her married daughter, Rosa May and Ernest was serving in India with the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment at Fort St. George, Madras after enlisting in 1903.
Ernest became Lance Corporal 7058 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He disembarked with BEF on 9.9.1914 and was Killed in Action on 17.4.1915. He is commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.
War Diary records that after relieving the 1st Battalion of the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) on the 12th April, the Battalion were in the trenches at Rue du Bois, it was a quiet day.
