Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Alfred Kelham, a general labourer, born 1843 in Leicester and his wife, Sarah Jane Kelham (nee White, married on the 7th October 1867 in St. James’ Church, Dover, Kent), a nurse, born 1847 in Dover, Kent, and who was the daughter of William White of Dover. Ernest Edward, a schoolboy and was born in the 2nd quarter of 1886 in Leicester, his siblings were, Henrietta Sarah Elizabeth, a shoe trade worker, born 1876 in India, Lucy Amy, a schoolgirl, born 1881 in Thoyetayo, Burma and Rosa May, a schoolgirl, born 1883 in Maidstone, Kent, in April 1891 the family home was at 37, Edwyn Street, Leicester. Ernest’s father died in the 2nd quarter of 1891, aged 49. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a boot trade fitter and was residing in the family home at 47, Willow Brook Road, Leicester, together with his widowed mother and sister Rosa, a boot and shoe maker. In April 1911 Ernest was absent from the family home, his widowed mother, a monthly nurse was now residing at 57, Baggrave Street, Leicester, this being the family home of Ernest’s married sister Rosa May Pywell, a shoe trade fitter, and her husband, Benjamin Pywell, a boot heel factory storekeeper, born 1880 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Ernest was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India.
Ernest attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 18th August 1903 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Saviour’s, Leicester, his age as 18 years and 3 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he had previously served with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – Militia and had purchased his discharge. He gave his mother, Sarah Kelham of 47, Willow Brook Road, Leicester, his sister Lucy Kelham of 47, Willow Brook Road, Leicester, his sister Hettie Hudson of 49, Willow Brook Road, Leicester and his sister May Kelham, address unknown as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had the following tattoos, heart and crossed hands on his right arm and E. K. on his left wrist. The tip of his little finger on his left hand was missing. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 18th August 1903 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7058 on the 19/8/03. Transferred to the -?- Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in Guernsey on the 21/11/03. Awarded his 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 29/4/04. Granted Messing Allowance on the 18/5/04. Extended his service to 8 years on the 26/5/04. Posted to Colchester on the 29/9/04. Passed M. I. Course at Longmoor on the 31/12/04. Posted to the Tower of London on the 5/7/05. Granted Service Pay on the 18/8/05. Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge on the 18/8/05. Transferred to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in Colchester on the 29/8/05. Embarked aboard SS. Scilia on the 20/9/05. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 16/10/06. Passed Ambulance Class, Belgaum, India on the 14/6/09. Passed the Sanitation, First Aid and Stretcher Drill course on the 28/8/11. Transferred to the Army Reserve Section “B” on the 3/11/11. Mobilized at Leicester on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Appointed Lance Corporal, unpaid on the 25/10/14. Killed in action, place not stated on the 17/4/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 18/8/03 – 19/9/05, 2 years 33 days. India, 20/9/05 – 1/11/11, 6 years 43 days. Home Service, 2/11/11 – 8/9/14, 2 years 311 days. British Expeditionary Force France, 9/9/14 – 17/4/15, 211 days. Total service 11 years 243 days. Ernest was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Ernest’s mother, Sarah J. Kelham of 17, Frank Street, Leicester on the 16th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- a Clerk in Holy Orders of St. Saviour’s Vicarage, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Mrs S. J. Kelham of 17, Frank Street, Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mrs H. S. E. Hudson, age 43 of 50, Thurlby Road, Leicester, Mrs. L. A. Stone, age 38 of 29, Clifton Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester and Mrs. R. M. Pywell, age 36 of 57, Baggrave Street, Leicester. Ernest’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Saturday February 27th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – IN A LITTLE WET HOME IN A TRENCH. Pte. E. Kelham, of the 1st Leicesters, sends to his friends who reside in Frank Street, the following parody of “My little grey home in the West” :-
In a little wet home in a trench.
Which the rainstorms continually drench,
There’s a dead cow close by,
With her hoofs towards the sky,
And she gives off a beautiful stench.
Underneath, in place of a floor,
There’s a mass of wet mud and some straw,
And the Jack Johnsons tear,
Through the rain sodden air,
Over my little wet home in a trench.
There are snipers who keep on the go,
So you must keep your “napper” down low,
And there’s star shells at night,
Make a deuce of a light,
Which causes the language to flow.
Then bully and biscuits we chew,
For its days since we tasted a stew,
But with shells dropping there,
There’s no place to compare,
With my little wet home in the trench.
The War Diary records: 17 Apr-15 - 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.
On Friday May 14th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES.
The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base, under date 25th April:-
KILLED.
1st Battalion
Kelham (7058), Lance Corporal E.