Ernest Ambler

War Service

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Ernest continued to work at Newland Saint John’s Colliery. He volunteered at Normanton in October 1914, joining the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 12th (Service) Battalion (Miners) (Pioneers). The battalion became the pioneer battalion of the 31st Division in May 1915.
After training, the battalion moved to Egypt arriving 3 days before Christmas 1915. After only a short time spent in Egypt, they were ordered back to Europe, arriving in France in March 1916.
During the spring and summer of 1916 the Allied Generals planned a summer offensive by men of the French, British and Commonwealth armies: later the world would know the offensive as the “Battle of the Somme”. Ernest, with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, saw action during the battle between 1 July and 30 November 1916.
The battalion joined the Fifth Army Troops the following year, 1917, for work on light railways. This work entailed building and repairing track, amongst other duties, to ensure the narrow-gauge light railway continued to operate, moving men and materials up to the front and bringing back wounded.
During the German spring offensive in 1918, the battalion had the task of rebuilding and maintaining trenches destroyed by heavy enemy bombardment. Whilst carrying out their tasks the men had to endure sniper, machine gun fire and several gas attacks.
On the 1 April 1918, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 12th (Service) Battalion began training in infantry and musketry near the village Cambligneul, located 10 miles northwest of Arras. On 11 April 1918 the battalion became a fighting battalion, part of the 31st Division, taking up a position in the line at the cross-roads located southeast of La Couronne. At this time a large German offensive was in progress.
Ernest lost his life during the action on the 24 April 1918, aged 34, leaving his wife Annie to care for Leonard their 7-year-old son. Ernest is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.
The following appeared in “The Times” newspaper on Wednesday April 24th 1918:
“The following paragraph mentioning the 31st Division is from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haigh’s despatch dated 23 April 1918. “On April 13 the 31st was holding a front some 9,000 yards east of the forest of De Nieppe. The division was already greatly reduced in strength, as the result of previous fighting and the enemy was still pressing his advance. The troops were informed that their line had to be held to the last to detraining of reinforcements, and all ranks responded with the most magnificent courage and devotion to the appeal made to them. Throughout all one day of incessant fighting they beat off a succession of determined attacks. In the evening, the enemy made a last great effort and by sheer weight of numbers, over ran certain portions of our line, the defenders of which died fighting, but would not give ground. Those enemies that had broken through at these points were met by the reinforcement troops, which by this time had completed their detrainment.” The action was fierce with many losses and injuries.”
The following appeared in the Wakefield Express 4 May 1918:
“NORMANTON FAMILY’S SACRIFICE TWO SONS KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED IN TWO DAYS FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE FOR THREE YEARS
There are sad hearts in a Normanton home this week, where three soldier sons who have fought side by side in the same company for three years have been laid low – two killed and one wounded – within a few hours of each other. They were Privates George Herbert Ambler (22), Ernest Ambler (34) and Cyril Ambler (25) who were in one of the K.O.Y.L.I. pioneer companies and sons of Mr George Ambler of 190 Castleford Road, Normanton. The news reached Normanton in a letter from their platoon officer that stated:- “My platoon had a slight retirement under heavy shell fire and one shell killed both your sons, Private G.H. and E. Ambler instantaneously whilst we were crossing open ground. Please accept the deep and sincere sympathy all officers, N.C.Os and men of the company. They were both fine men and all who knew them speak well of them and are very much upset at their loss. Perhaps the knowledge that they both died fighting for their country as brave soldiers and gentlemen will help ease the great pain you must suffer. Your other son, Private Cyril Ambler was wounded the following day but he is not a serious case. Although he knew that his two brothers were dead, he never thought of anything but his duty and was anxious to avenge their deaths. I was next to him in the trench and was amazed at the pluck he showed. You should be proud of him.”
Private E. Ambler was married, his home being at George Street, Altofts and he leaves a widow and one child, and he, before the war broke out, was a miner at Newland Colliery. His two younger brothers worked at Messrs. Pope and Pearson’s. They enlisted in October 1914 and have been right through the war together, fighting side by side in the same company in many a stiff engagement in Egypt and France. Two other brothers are also in France, namely Privates Fred and Wilfred Ambler, K.O.Y.L.I. who are serving in (****) second line Territorial battalion. Private Cyril Ambler is now in the Whalley Military Hospital, Lancashire where he has been visited by his parents. He has a wound in the foot. Mrs Ambler’s sons by a former marriage have been equally as loyal as their stepbrothers. One of them Lance Corporal Mark Ward is at present with the Military Police at Whitechurch, another Leonard Ward has been discharged and her eldest son Alfred Ward, who for the past ten years has been living in New Zealand, where he has done very well indeed is joining the army this week. This is a wonderful record of service for one family, and Mr and Mrs Ambler have received many expressions of sympathy with them in their great loss.”
Please note (****) type illegible in original document.
Mrs Ambler referred to in the newspaper article is Ernest’s stepmother. Ernest’s mother, Eliza, died about 1907 and then Ernest’s father, George, remarried Elizabeth Ward in 1909.

Family Life

Ernest was officially born in Normanton in 1883, although records show him living in Common Row, Whitwood and baptised at St Philip Church, Whitwood on 16th December 1883.
His parents George and Eliza Ambler were also born locally: George in Warmfield and Eliza in Normanton. George worked at a local colliery, employed as an Engineman.
By the age of 7 years, Ernest had moved to 17, Oxford Street, Normanton with his parents, grandmother (Mary Cushworth) and his seven siblings: Walter, Fred, Ethel, Gertrude, Wilfred, Cicely and Lilian. After leaving school Ernest worked as a pony driver underground at Newland Saint John’s Colliery, Normanton.
On 28 March 1910 Ernest married Ann Coy of 10, Horner Place, Normanton at All Saints Parish Church, Normanton. After their marriage Ernest and Ann moved to 5, George Street, Altofts where in 1911 their son Leonard was born.

Ploegsteert Memorial