Ernest Charles Langton

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Date of death 
3 September 1916
Age of death 
26
Address 
2 Globe Terrace
Globe Road
Woodford Green
Woodford
Essex
IG8 7LZ
Address source 
1911 Census
Local memorial 
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born in 1890 at Buckhurst Hill, son of Edwin (School Board Officer) and Caroline Langton. In 1891 he is living with his family at Youngs Cottage Albert Road, Buckhurst Hill. In 1901he is living with widowed mother who was a sick nurse at 1 Albert Road, Buckhurst Hill. In 1911 he is listed as a Plumbers Mate living with his sister Florence, brother George and brother in law Henry John Lagdon at 2 Globe Terrace, Globe Road, Woodford Green. He was brother in law to the three Lagdon/Lagden boys who were killed in this war.

In 1915 he married Edith Susan Burling, and when he enlisted at Walthamstow he was said to be living at Ongar. He arrived in France on 7th August 1915.

Ernest Langton his was involved in a preliminary attack on High Wood at Wood Lane. This was intended to improve British positions before the main attack took place later in the month. It began with a German Machine Gun position being destroyed by a mine. Following a bombardment, 1 Cameronians and 8 Berkshires reached Wood Lane, largely because of the destruction of the machine gun position. They took 200 yards of trench near High Wood in fierce hand to hand fighting, but a German counter attack regained the trenches. No advantage was gained from the day’s action, during which Ernest Langton was killed.

X/R: Lieutenant Richard Langden; Private David Langdon; Corporal Edward Langdon. (Brothers in Law)

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Woodford Times