Ernest Maiden, Age 21

Private, 267374, 1st/6th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Royal Welsh Fusiliers Cap Badge.

If Mr and Mrs Maiden had not had enough to contend with within another 6 months came the news that a third son this time Ernest had been killed in action whilst serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Palestine.

Ernest enlisted in early 1916 and after having trained with the Cheshire regiment (4074) he was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers being given a new number 267374. He was posted overseas late m 1916 to his new battalion (1/6th) Joining them in Palestine. In the early hours of November 6th 1917, the battalion left their bivouacs to be part of an attack against Turkish positions at Tel el Khuweilfeyi, north of Beersheba. They left at about 2.30am and took up their assembly positions before a bombardment of the Turkish positions started at 4am. They advanced immediately behind the barrage and had gained their objectives by 4.55am. The Turks immediately counter attacked in strength and forced the British back 200 yards, their light machine guns were deployed on the flanks ofthe Fusiliers and covered the counter attack. The Battalions War Diary recorded “They were immediately attacked with bayonet, three successive charges being made, enabling the battalion to regain the ground originally occupied. Owing, however, to the enemy machine guns which were now in position on our right rear, it was found necessary to withdraw again to the second position. The position was consolidated under heavy fire and held for the remainder of the day in spite of very heavy casualties — over 50% of the Officers and 30% of the men being killed or wounded.

Ernest was killed in action on the 6th November 1917 and lies buried in the Beersheba War cemetery in grave F.57

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Beersheba War cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal