Current Information:

Age-23

Enlisted-Armoury House, Shoreditch

Voormezeele Enclosure3, Belgium

On 20th April, 1915, the 1st Honourable Artillery Company battalion of 7 Brigade, 3rd Division moved into the front line at St Eloi, just to the south of Ypres, where they remained until relieved on 24th April. The enemy often seemed to know when an inter-battalion relief was taking place in the front line opposite them and then did as much as they could to disrupt it. This meant targeting the approach communication trenches with their artillery and keeping up a high level of machine-gun and rifle fire. Reliefs therefore were times of extra danger and many a soldier was killed or wounded during them. This was the fate of Ernest Gardiner who was killed on 20th April when the battalion moved into these trenches.