Born: 18 April1896, Windhill
Died: 19 April 1918
Buried: Mendinghem Military Cemetery
Address: 7 Ives Street Windhill
Parents: Joseph and Sarah E
Spouse:
Siblings:
Occupation: Metal and machine broker
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Christchurch, Windhill
Children:
Regiment: 1/6 West Yorkshire
Ernest Hird
Having been wounded in action, one soldier discovered he couldn’t
escape danger even in his own home.
‘An explosion occurred on Monday morning at a house in Leeds Road,
Windihll, occupied by Mr Joseph Hird, marine stores dealer.
‘Every window of the house was blown out, the kitchen ceiling collapsed
and the furniture both upstairs and downstairs was damaged.
‘There were in the house at the time Mr and Mrs Hird and their son, Pte
Ernest Hird, of the Army Service Corps, who is home on furlough from
the Front.
‘All of them suffered from shock and burns, the worst case being that of
Mrs Hird, whose injuries were to the face and head. Mr Hird’s left arm
was badly burned and Pte Hird was slightly injured on the right cheek.
‘Dr Jenkins attended to the sufferers and later Mrs Hird was admitted to
the Saltaire Hospital. On inquiry at the hospital last night we were
informed that the patient had so far recovered that she would be able to
leave the hospital tomorrow (Saturday).
‘It is understood that the cause of the explosion was the escape of gas
due to defective fittings in the gas oven.’
Shipley Times & Express 19-11-1915
I am grateful to Freda Humpherson for supplying me with information and
photographs of Ernest and the four Barraclough brothers
In the 1911 census,
Ernest Hird was
described as working
in a glass works and
was living with his
parets and younger
sister, Ada, at 3
Walker Place,
Windhill.
The family had moved
to 7 Ives Street,
Windhill, by 1918
when they heard of
Ernest’s death.
The Shipley Times &
Express reported: “Pte Ernest Hird,
West Yorkshire Regiment, died on
19th April from wounds received
on the the 17th.
“He had had four
birthdays at the front
and was 22 years of
age on 18th April.
“In civil life he
worked for his father,
a metal and machinery
broker and he enlisted
on 5th August 1914.
“Altogether he had
been wounded on
three occasions, the
first time being in
September 1915, after
whih he returned to
the front in February 1916.”
Ernest was the grandson of Eliza
Barraclough, who also lost four
sons in the war. There are links to
their stories below.
