Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mary Jane Beckett, born 1875 in Huncote, Leicestershire. Ernest Whitton was born in 1895 in Shipdam, Norfolk. In March 1901 he was residing with his maternal grandparents Noah Hall, born 1837 in Houghton, Leicestershire and Jane Elizabeth Hall, born 1849 in Frisby, Leicestershire in their home at 12, St. Alban’s Road, Leicester, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Peter. In April 1911 Ernest was a Schoolboy and was residing in the home of his maternal grandparents at 10, St. Alban’s Road, Leicester, together with his mother and her two brothers, Rowland Needham, born 1879 in Huncote, Leicestershire and John Henry Needham, born 1881 in Huncote, Leicestershire. The Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys published a Roll of Honour on the 31st January 1920 in which an entry shows that he was a pupil at the school between 1903 and 1908. It recorded that he was killed in action on the 23rd March 1918 in France. The War Diary entry for the 22nd March 1918 records. At 12.20am enemy opened a heavy trench mortar and artillery barrage on this section and on the ones on the right and left. The artillery responded promptly, and well to our call for assistance. All communications were down almost immediately, except for the telephone to centre Coy who reported no infantry attack on his front. Hostile fire ceased at 1.30am. It afterwards transpired that enemy had endeavoured to enter our left Coy line and been repulsed with rifle and Lewis gun fire. The main attack directed at the 8th SHERWOOD FORESTERS succeeded in over running the front line and entering their Reserve Line, from whence he endeavoured to bomb along our Reserve Line. He did not get far. His casualties were very heavy as the 9 dead Bosche in NO MANS LAND and 2 prisoners left in our hands testify. Valuable identification was obtained. Remainder of day quiet. Our casualties 2 missing and 8 wounded.