Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Battle a railway signalman, born 25th April 1860 in Blunham, Bedfordshire and his wife Elizabeth Battle (nee Savill, married on the 9th November 1881 in the All Saint’s Church, Sutton), born 1859 in Sutton, Bedfordshire. Ernest was born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Thurnby, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 10th May 1889 in Thurnby Parish Church, his siblings were Ethel, a schoolgirl, born 1885 in Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, Mabel Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1887 in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, Albert Edward, born 1888 and Frederick William, born 1891 the latter two siblings were both born in Thurnby, in April 1891 the family home was at Thurnby. In March 1901 Ernest was residing in the family home at Thurnby Lodge, Leicestershire together with his father, a railway signalman, his mother and siblings, Albert, a market gardener, Frederick, Walter, born 7th August 1892, Nellie, born 1894, William John, born 18th October 1896 and Sidney, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Thurnby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Ernest was absent from the family home at 105, Victoria Park Road East, Leicester, residing there was his father, a market gardener, his mother and siblings, Albert, a dispensary agent, Mabel a domestic servant, Frederick, a dispensary agent, Walter, an under gardener, Nellie, a hosiery trade mender, William a baker’s delivery man and Sidney, a schoolboy, Ernest was serving as Private with the 10th Hussars (Royal) and was stationed in Lucknow, India. Ernest’s father died is September 1916 in Leicester, aged 56 and his mother died in March 1945 in Leicester, aged 86.
Ernest’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Corps of Hussars being allotted the service number 3608, and was posted as a Private to the 18th Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 15th August 1914. During his service he attained the rank of Acting Corporal, he died on the 24th/25th May 1915 in the 8th Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, France from the effects of gas. He was awarded the 1914-15 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Monday 2nd August 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” - Corporal E. BATTLE, of B Squadron, 18th Hussars, who died from the effects of gas poisoning in Flanders on May 24th, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Battle, 82, Stanley-street, Leicester. He had been at the front since September, and at the outbreak of war, when he was called up as a reservist, was postman at Coalville. He had previously served seven years in the regular army.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 4th, 1915

Local Soldier Promoted - Recommended for D.C.M.

Mr W. Brown, of Burton-on-Trent, dentist, who attends Coalville (Mrs Geary’s, Hotel Street) every Friday, has received an interesting letter from a friend of his, Sergt. E. Battle of the 18th Hussars in France.

Having expressed thanks for letter and parcel and says: “On May 13th, we had a terrible time losing over two hundred. It was hell let loose with a vengeance. All the cavalry caught it, especially the Leicestershire Yeomanry. You will be pleased to hear that I am Sergeant now and am also recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal. What we want is plenty of big ammunition to smarten them up a bit. The other day I’ll bet they have sent two thousand shells over our trenches. It was one continual explosion. One of our fellows went mad. I could never explain it to anyone. The people in England don’t realise it. Roll on when it is all over. It is Whit Sunday today and we have been at it nearly ten months now.”

The promotion of this soldier to Sergeant, referred to in the letter, is the second he has received since the battle of Neuve Chapelle.

Submitted by A. Murby 2/9/2017