Ernest Edward Gatehouse

Story:
Ernest Edward Gatehouse was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1882 the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (née Farmer).   The family lived at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, until, by 1901 they had moved to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset.  Ernest married Laura Mary Brown at the St. Michael the Archangel Church, Mere, Wiltshire, on 13th November 1912 and they went on to have six children. He was described as a Railway Delivery Agent on the 1911 Census. Ernest enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 6151).  He served in France and Flanders from 12 Sep 1914 with the 8th Battalion and was taken prisoner at La Bassee, France, on 23rd January 1915 and sent to Prisoner of War camp at Mersebury, near Liepzig in Germany. This was Camp Altengrabow. While there he had a trinket box and a cup made for his wife Laura Mary and engraved with her initials. Following his release he was not discharged until 31st March 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living in Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Railway Agent's Carman.  He died on 6 Apr 1935 in Mere, Wiltshire, and was buried in Mere on 10 Apr 1935.  His brothers, Percy George, Charles Howe, Sidney Herbert, Ernest Edward and Thomas William Gatehouse, all served and survived the conflict whilst their nephew, Victor Stokes, died.  His remaining brother, Walter John, was also purported to have served but no reliable military record can be found. His death was recorded in Edenbridge, Mere, Wiltshire, on 6th April 1935 and he was buried at Mere on 10th April 1935.  One of his brothers, Thomas William Gatehouse, also served in the conflict and his nephew, Victor Stokes, was killed during the war in an accident.