Ernest John Inkpen

Story:
Ernest John Inkpen was born on 3rd August, 1895 in Shillingstone, Dorset, and was baptised there on 27th October, 1895. He was the son of John Reece Bradford Inkpen, a Postman, and Martha Inkpen (née Newman). His siblings included Walter, (b.1887), and Bertram, (b.1898), both of whom died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census Ernest was single, working as an Office Clerk and living at Behind Town, Shillingstone, Dorset.

He enlisted at Shaftesbury on 18th December, 1914, as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 12640). He later transferred, as a Sapper, to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 173268), on 20th April 1916 and joined the 276th Railway Company, Heavy Artillery, based in Ismalia, Egypt. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals. He died on 9th September 1916 from Enteric Fever and was buried at Ismalia War Memorial Cemetery, Ismalia, Egypt (grave id. A.7). He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset, and also on the War Memorial at the Church of the Holy Rood, Shillingstone. Whilst his brother, Walter, also appears on the Motcombe memorial, there is no mention in the area of his brother, Bertram.