SHELDON Ernest Cara

Bombardier Ernest Cara Sheldon Royal Field Artillery

1914 Star (missing). 1914-18 British War Medal (missing). Victory Medal.

The Man Ernest Cara Sheldon was born in Windsor Street, Royal Leamington Spa in December 1890 son of William a Labourer and Emma and had at least one brother Charles J born in 1885. He was privately baptised on 29th December but by April the following year was living with Charles at 2 Andrew’s Court, Windsor Street with Mary A Claridge and her four daughters, seemingly having been unofficially ‘adopted’ by Mary and listed as a boarder.

In 1901 he was at the same address aged 10, still with Mary and now listed as a visitor. No trace can be subsequently be found of his parents William and Emma who seem to have moved away very shortly after his baptism.

As soon as he was old enough Ernest joined the army enlisting into the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner with service number 51131 and the 1911 census shows him living in Barracks at Crookham, Farnham.

At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Ernest, now a Bombardier was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force just over a week later, on 16th.

He served on the Western Front and on 1st August 1915 was with the 15th Battery when they were shelled heavily between 0630h and 0730h and their billets destroyed, Ernest was killed in the attack, aged 24 and three other soldiers wounded. The 15th and 71st Batteries fired in retaliation during the afternoon and evening.

Ernest’s remains were never found and following the war he was commemorated on the Le Touret Commonwealth War Grave Memorial. He was posthumously awarded his 1914 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and his named also added to the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial

His Soldiers Effects document gives Mary Claridge as his Foster Mother and the Leamington Courier reported his death, saying he was her adopted son.

Medal Index Card showing award of the 1914 Star.

The Story The Victory Medal awarded posthumously to Ernest Sheldon was acquired from a friend, who very kindly allowed the medal to ‘return home’ to Royal Leamington Spa where Ernest was born and bred.

Most of the research had already been completed, but a little more digging and cross referencing located some additional details enabling his brief biography to be completed.