ERNEST PINNER
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from 1916 Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper.
Born: 1895, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 3rd October 1897, at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich, with his sisters, Lily May Pinner, born 3rd October 1895, Alice Maud Pinner, and Ethel Pinner – family home at 40, Wells Street, Ipswich.
Died: 12th October 1916; age 21; KiA – the Battle of Transloy.
Residence: 67, Norfolk Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich, Suffolk.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 43203
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th (Service) Battalion.
Formerly 2254, Suffolk Cyclists.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Memorial Reference:
Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
Somme,
France.
Relatives Notified and Address: Only son of Mrs. Eliza Curtis, of 67, Norfolk Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 15, Regent Street, Ipswich.
Ernest was 5 years old and living with his parents & siblings
Jeremiah Thomas Pinner, 46, a Shoemaker – own account; born Ipswich.
Eliza Pinner (nee Calthorpe), 32; born Sheerness, Kent.
Ethel Pinner, 5, born Ipswich.
Alice Maud Pinner, 3, born Ipswich.
1911 67, Norfolk Road, Ipswich.
Ernest was 15 years old, and was an Errand Boy for a Grocer. He was living with his mother and stepfather & siblings
Charles Curtis, 45, a Bricklayer for Mr. Walter Woods – Plumber, Painter, etc., of 16, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, born in Ipswich.
Eliza, 43.
Alice, 13.
Arthur George Curtis, 21, a Factory Hand, born Ipswich.
May Victoria Curtis, 9, born Ipswich.
Ernest’s 15 month old sister, Lily May Pinner, died on the 24th September 1897, at the family home, 40, Wells Street, Ipswich and was buried in Section F, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Ernest’s father, Jeremiah Thomas Pinner, died on the 2nd July 1905, at his home, 15, Regent Street, Ipswich and was buried in Section I, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
As a widow, Eliza Pinner had to seek employment, charing and taking in washing to provide for her young family. In 1907, in Ipswich, Eliza Pinner married Charles Curtis.
IPSWICH BLUE COAT SCHOOL
Ernest was educated at the Ipswich Blue Coat School. In December 1906, at a ceremony held at St. Matthew’s Church Hall, in the presence of the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. William Orford White, prizes were distributed to the students of the Ipswich Blue Coat School by the Right Reverend the Bishop of Ipswich. Ernest was awarded a prize in Religious Knowledge and Elementary Science.
The Bicentenary celebrations of the Ipswich Blue Coat School were held on Wednesday, 15th December 1909 at St. Nicholas Church, followed by the presentation of prizes to the scholars performed by Miss Coucher in the Church Hall. Ernest Pinner, of Standard V, was awarded a prize in Religious Knowledge and Mrs. Routh’s benefaction.
Soldiers’ Effects to Mrs Eliza Curtis – mother.
Image from 1917 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper. A possible picture of Ernest (top right).
Ernest is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich.
On the 11th October the Suffolk Regiment 7th Battalion, having been allotted its task in the Battle of Transloy (already in progress), received the orders to take part in an attack on “Bayonet Trench” and “Luisenhof farm”, which had been fixed for the 12th. Going in overnight, they were heavily shelled until they occupied their assembly trenches just before dawn. All the company headquarters were in a large dugout in the sunken road leading to Guedecourt Wood. After passing a reasonably quiet forenoon, the battalion set out across the open at 2 p.m., coming immediately under a very heavy crossfire of every description, but mainly from machine guns and automatic rifles. Close to the German trenches the attack was held up by machinegun nests and wire, and waves, unable to get any further, lay down. At this juncture, remarkable bravery was displayed by several officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. Lieutenant Eagle is reported to have died fighting in the German first line, into which he had forced an entrance alone. 2nd Lieut. Marshall, in a shell-hole with his servant and a sergeant, was bombed and sniped all afternoon, and later killed. They were close up against the German wire but refused to go back. Captain Isham, badly wounded during the afternoon, spent the night in a shell-hole, being visited by Lieut. Bowen (himself wounded), who remained with him till dark.
The full story of this sad day, on which the 7th Battalion sustained over 500 casualties, has never been described in print. Let it suffice to say that all ranks, especially the reinforcements which recently arrived from the 6th Cyclist Battalion (becoming the 7th), acquitted themselves admirably.
The failure of the attack was due in some measure to the fact that the enemy’s wire had been only partially destroyed and that the barrage during the launching of the attack was ineffective.
Before zero hour Captain Leith-Hay-Clarke had been twice buried by shells. Of the fourteen officers who went over the top on this occasion, all became casualties.
For his part in the action, Rev. A. E Cousins, chaplain to the 7th Battalion, received the Military Cross.
Lieut. Bowen, wounded for the second time in three months, was also awarded the Military Cross.
Transcript from “The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 by Lieut. Col. C.C.R Murphy”
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