Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension | I. D. 8. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.128 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 53C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Mr. J. Lucas, of 64, Albert Park Rd., Broughton, Salford, Manchester. Ernest was a boarder living at 109 Swinton Hall Rd, Swinton in 1911, at this time he was aged 24 and was working as an electrical engineer, this may have been with W&L Electrical Engineering Co., Granville St, Swinton, of which he was a partner (this company was dissolved in 1911).Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 25th Div. H.Q. RE |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Enlisted Manchester. Killed in Action.
Although he is buried in France he is commemorated at the family grave along with his brother at Salford Cemetery.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Bohemian No. 3294 E.C. | Cheshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
17th October 1910 | 25th November 1910 | 29th January 1911 |
Listed as a 24 year old Electrical Engineer, resident at Higher Broughton, Manchester at the time of his initiation. The contribution record shows that allowance for dues were made in or prior to 1912, but after 2 years of arrears he was "Excld Apl 1914." He doesn't appear to have been a subscribing Freemason at the time of his death in 1916.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley