Born in 1893 at Tottenham, son of Ernest Walter George (Gents Collar Manufacturers Warehouseman, later Manager) and Hedia Mary Ann Boulton. 1901: A scholar with his family at “Roselea” Gordon Road, South Woodford. 1911: A Shippers Clerk with his family at Norwood Villa, Grove Hill, South Woodford.
When he joined the Army on 17th January 1916, the family home was at “Redlands” Hermon Hill, Wanstead. He was immediately sent for training until 12th June 1916 when he embarked from Southampton. Just under one month later he was confined to hospital from 6th July to 9th July to be treated for shellshock.
During October 1916 the London Scottish was engaged in the Battle of the Somme. At 02.00 on 7th October 1916 the Battalion was on the right of an attack, being tasked with taking gun emplacements at the end of “Hazy Trench”. “C” Company was to the right, “B” to the left, “D” in support, and “A” in reserve. The objectives were well defended, but after much hard hand to hand fighting the German positions were taken and then held against very determined counter attacks.
The London Rifle Brigade relieved them at daybreak, and by nightfall they were back at their starting point. Their success had come at a price - “B” Company had been reduced to one officer and 18 men. Ernest Boulton was another of those killed during this action, and today he has no known grave.
His attestation papers state his religion to be “C of E”, and he is recorded in the Parish Magazine of Christ Church Wanstead as being an old Chorister. He sang there again before going back to war for the last time. However, when his mother was completing an official claim after his death, she curiously had the form signed at Wanstead after a service by a Catholic Priest from St George’s Church Walthamstow. These men served the Catholic Mission Church at Wanstead.
He is commemorated on the Wanstead War Memorial.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com