Born: 1895, Shipley
Died: 23 February 1915
Buried:
Address: 16 Dale Street, Hargreaves Square, Shipley
Parents: Elijah and Catherine Ann, nee Smith
Spouse:
Siblings: Joseph, George, Willie and five others
Occupation: Worsted Spinner (1911)
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Paul’s, Shipley. Nab Wood.
Children:
Regiment: Duke of Wellington’s
Ernest Clegg
Mr and Mrs Clegg of 16 Dale
Street, Hargreaves Square, Shipley
had four sons in the war.
George Henry was in Dorset with
the East Yorkshire Regt; Joseph
William was with the West Riding
Regiment in Grantham; But
William, and their youngest son,
20-year-old Ernest, were at the
front line.
And it fell to William to reveal to
the family how Ernest had died and
his letter was quoted in the Shipley
Times & Express on 12 March
1915:
‘I am sorry to tell you about my
brother having been killed. Just tell
Vina to break the news to mother
gently as he has died a soldier’s
death for his country. I buried him
all right.
‘Ask her to tell mother not to take
it too hard. You cannot depend
upon your life out here. I am all
right and in the pink of condition.’
The family also received a letter
from Ernest, dated 19 February,
four days before he was killed.
‘Dear Mother and Father – I write
you these few lines hoping that you
are in good health, as I am at
present.
‘I am very sorry for not writing
before now. I received your letter
and postcard all right. It had the
wrong company on but our Will
brought it down to me and I let him
read it.
‘We are both going on all right.’
A memorial service was held at St
Paul’s Church. ‘relatives and
intimate friends of the deceased
were present and the Shipley
Volunteer Force paid a dutiful mark
of respect and sympathy by
parading in the Market Place and
headed by the drummers and
buglers, marching to the church
Khaki-clad men were noticed both
in the choir and congregation. The
hymns sung during the service
were “When wounded sore the
stricken soul,” “Servant of God,
well done!” “our Lord, our banner,
God of Might” and “Safe home,
safe home, in port.”
After a sermon reflecting on the
war by the vicar, the band played
the Last Post.
Shipley Times & Express 25-2-1915
