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Hi
I am doing research for my local web site on serving soldiers from both wars.
On the Roll of Honour site there is an Ernest Woodcraft listed but with no information. I beleive him to be born c1897 in Eaton Bray Beds the son of John and Elizabeth Woodcraft and brother of Harry who was killed in action in 1917.
The only other record I can find is from the absent voters list of 1918.
Listed as:

Woodcraft , Ernest of Bower Lane Eaton Bray
276146 80 BGW co CME Works RE.

Does anyone know what the initials stand for please.
Thank you
Bernie

the ME could be Mechanical Engineers?

Ernest Woodcraft
England and Wales Census, 1901
birth: 1897 Eaton Bray,? Bedfordshire
census: 31 Mar 1901 Eaton Bray,? Bedfordshire,? England


name: Ernest Woodcraft
event: Census
event date: 31 Mar 1901
gender: Male
age: 4
relationship to head of household: Son
birthplace: Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
record type: Household
registration district: Leighton Buzzard
sub-district: Edlesborough
ecclesiastical parish: Eaton Bray St Mary The Virgin
civil parish: Eaton Bray
county: Bedfordshire

Ernest Woodcroft
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Eaton Bray,? Bedfordshire
census: 1911 Hemel Hempstead,? Hemel Hempstead,? Hertfordshire,? England


name: Ernest Woodcroft
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Male
age: 14
birthplace: Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
record type: Household
registration district: Hemel Hempstead
sub-district: Hemel Hempstead
parish: Hemel Hempstead
county: Hertfordshire

The CME that I know is Canadian Military Engineers but I doubt that's what it is in this case.

Thats the one Ann

1911 boarding in Hemel age 14 working in the Print

CME - Chief Mechanical Engineer

RE - Royal Engineers?????

Hi Ann

Think your right on Royal Engineers.

Hi Margee

Thank you

BGW - Battlefield Guided Weapon

Could it have anything to do with the mines?

well there are lots of sites giving military acronym definitions and that's the only one for BGW

So at the moment we have

Battlefield Guided Weapons Co CME Works Royal Engineers.

Sounds good so far.

CME -

command, communicaton, combat, chemical, core, combat maneouvre, civil military,
combat mobility

CMLS is Conventional mine laying system

Bernie,

Not about the initials. Found baptism of Ernest on Family Tree at familysearch.org. Was 2 May 1897 and his birth was registered in 1896. Parents' marriage John Woodcraft to Lizzie Fountain Eaton Bray 2 Nov 1878

Thank you Ann
Thank you Charlotte

Still don't know what the initials are but had some info from Beds Records Office saying that Ernest was on the casuality list in the St Albans Dioceson area for Eaton Bray serving with the 42nd Highlanders (The Black Watch).
Found a Medal Card on Ancestry for an Ernest WOODCROFT which fits also a record on CWGC site for same with 27/12/1918 as date of death.
Sounds like an accident or maybe Spanish Flu which maybe why there is no info on Roll of Honour site.

Bernie

Sorry

Medal Card also shows he served with the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Engineers.

1911
STONE, John Finch Head Married M 51 1860 Carman Northallbucks
STONE, Mary Wife Married31 years F 51 1860 House Duties Eaton Bray Beds
STONE, Richard Son Single M 22 1889 Carman Northall Bucks
STONE, Elsie Mary Daughter Single F 19 1892 Mill Hand (Hand Gumming) Fleet Marston Bucks
CRIPPS, Ethel Maud Boarder Single F 19 1892 Mill Hand (Card Dept.) Eaton Bray Beds
WOODCROFT, Ernest Boarder Single M 14 1897 Mill Hand (Printer) Eaton Bray Beds
RG number: RG14
Piece: 7741
Reference: RG14PN7741 RG78PN383 RD141 SD1 ED2 SN194
Registration District: Hemel Hempstead
Sub District: Hemel Hempstead
Enumeration District: 2
Parish: Hemel Hempstead
Address: 1 Bridge St Hemel Hempstead
County: Hertfordshire

(looks like work was to do with Paper Mill?)

Chris :)

(or could initials be to do with anything Railway?)

First name(s): Harry
Last name: WOODCRAFT
Calculated year of birth: 1887
Parish of birth: Eaton Bray
Town of birth: Dunstable
County of birth: Bedfordshire
Age at attestation: 17 years 2 months
Attestation date: 14 December 1904
Attestation corps: 3RD BEDFORD REGT
Attestation soldier number: 5154
Discharge rank:
Discharge corps: Bedfordshire Regiment - 16th Foot
Discharge soldier number:
The National Archives reference: WO96 / 338 / 244

(Ernest listed as younger brother, George older, of above, Bowers Lane, Eaton Bray, parents John and Elizabeth)

Chris :)

1901
WOODCRAFT, John Head Married M 54 1847 Quarryman Limeworke
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Elizabeth Wife Married F 48 1853
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Harry Son Single M 12 1889
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Alice Daughter Single F 10 1891
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Ernest Son Single M 4 1897
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
Piece: 1511
Folio: 46
Page: 12
Registration District: Leighton Buzzard
Civil Parish: Eaton Bray
Municipal Borough:
Address: Bower Lane, Eaton Bray
County: Bedfordshire

1891
WOODCRAFT, John Head Married M 35 1846 Straw Cutter (Plait)
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Lizzie Wife Married F 29 1852
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, George Son Single M 2 1879
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
WOODCRAFT, Harry Son Single M 0 1881
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
FOUNTAIN, Martin Boarder Widower M 50 1831 Straw Cutter (Plait)
Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire
Piece: 1645
Folio: 68
Page: 22
Registration District: Leighton Buzzard
Civil Parish: Eaton-Bray
Municipal Borough:
Address: 12, Victoria Ter, Eaton-Bray
County: Bedfordshire


Name: WOODCROFT, Ernest
Unit:Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Rank:Private
Number:313015
Year: 1918
Volume : I.1
Page: 346
Record source: GRO War Death Army Other Ranks (1914 to

Hi Chris and Thank you

So brother Harry joined the Beds in 1904.
Does it state when he left the army please as in 1911 he is at home with the family working on a farm.