COMMEMORATION

Ernest Albert Pyle was a Private in the Royal Fusiliers (City Of London Regiment) 23rd Battalion; formerly 5505, Middlesex Regiment. Service no. G/81351. He died on 19/03/1918, aged 31. Details record him as husband of Ellen Pyle of 11A Morat Street, Stockwell, London. His name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial. We will remember him.

STORY

ERNEST ALBERT PYLE (1888-1918)

Ernest was born at 1 Henry Road, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, London, the 5th child and youngest of 4 sons of Richard and Sarah Pyle. He died at The Somme in WW1, aged 31 and has no known grave. His name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face C 9 A and 16 A.

He attended Seven Sisters School in Braemar Road Tottenham. He married Ellen Edgar in 1908 and they had 3 children - Ernest Richard (1909), Albert Edward (1911) and Arthur James (1913). Arthur died in 1916.

Ernest was described in the 1911 Census as a house painter, working on the Holland Estate. The family were living at 59A Morat Street, Brixton, South London.

Ernest was conscripted into the army as PRIVATE G/81351 and enlisted in Lambeth. He and his family were living at 11A Morat Street, Stockwell. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. He was sent to the front to replace soldiers lost.  He changed units and joined the 23rd. Bn., Royal Fusiliers. He died at the Somme on Tuesday 19th March 1918 age 31. His mother was told that he was last seen being loaded into an ambulance. Nothing further is known.

One of his brothers Herbert George Pyle (aka Hubert) was also killed at The Somme a year earlier (08/03/1917) having emigrated to Australia in 1913 and joined the Australian Army in 1915.

 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website shows the following:

In Memory of Private Ernest Albert Pyle

G/81351, 23rd Bn., Royal Fusiliers who died on 19 March 1918 Age 31

Husband of Ellen Pyle, of 11A, Morat St., Stockwell, London.

Remembered with honour.

Thiepval Memorial

Graham Pyle