Ernest Edward HARGREAVES

892073, Gunner. b. 1912, Clayton d. 21st November 1942 (aged 30).

One of two brothers who served as Gunners in the Royal Artillery, Ernest had joined the territorial forces in 1938 and worked as a gas meter reader for Bradford Corporation before he was called up.

He was the son of John William Hargreaves and Emily Jane Hargreaves of 2, Beaconsfield Road. John had worked as a manager of the Gas Works and 1911 census shows them living in a house at Ludlam St Gasworks. Ernest came along in 1912 and was the younger brother of Alfred, John and William and sisters Susannah and Nellie. They had a ‘Wifes Helper’ living with them.

Ernest was present at the evacuation of Cherbourg in May 1940 and, on returning to Britain, was posted to the Middle East.

By this point he was with the 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, otherwise known as the Honourable Artillery Company.

The 11th (HAC) Regiment RHA served in North Africa at the Battle of Knightsbridge with 25-pounder guns and, after re-equipping with the M7 Priest self-propelled gun, in the Second Battle of El Alamein where it was commanded by Bill Leggatt.

A few days before his death he was wounded by an enemy shell and taken to Heliopolis in Egypt where he died in hospital.

Ernest is buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt. His headstone is inscribed “Pleasant memories left behind”.

I don’t know which battery Ernest served with but the following pictures from HAC archive show the terrain and equipment that Ernest would have known.

Alfred Hargreaves

Ernest’s older brother Alfred was born on 7th October 1906 and he survived WW2. The 1939 register shows Alfred and his sister Nellie living at the family home at 2 Beaconsfield Road, Alfred occupation is shown as postman, he joined postal service in April 1923. Alfred passed away on 28th April 1985.