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Private Ernest Albert Sleeman
Description
TitlePrivate Ernest Albert SleemanSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionErnest was born in Darfield on 18 April 1887, son of John and Ann Sleeman of Sydenham. At the time of enlistment he was a labourer working for Mr Bull at Waddington. He was 5ft 6in tall, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
Ernest enlisted on 18 November 1915 at Trentham and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He embarked from Wellington on 4 March 1916 with the 10th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted Rifles. They were bound for Suez, Egypt and disembarked on 8 April 1916. They headed to camp at Moascar and during the Divisional re-organisation he was transferred to the Canterbury Infantry battalion on 2 May 1916. With them he sailed for France on board the Ivernia and headed to depot at Etaples. He was admitted to hospital with laryngitis but was discharged after a week. He re-joined his battalion in the field on 1 July but was wounded in action on 17 September 1916 probably during the battle for Flers –Courcelette. He had been struck by shell fragments during the heavy bombardment and suffered wounds to his right leg and left arm. He was evacuated on board the Hospital ship Brighton for England days later and admitted to hospital at Bethnal Green on 24 September. However these were the days before antibiotics and he died of his wounds and exhaustion on 4 November 1916 aged 28. Ernest was buried in the City of London Cemetery at Manor Park, Essex (plot 235. 91006). Ernest is remembered on both the Malvern County and Sheffield War Memorials.
Many of the soldiers buried here died in Bethnal Green Military Hospital. The Screen Wall at the back of the War Graves Plot commemorates by name those buried in the plot or in graves elsewhere in the cemetery which could not be marked by headstones and those who were cremated in the City of London Crematorium.First NameErnest AlbertLast NameSleemanFamilySingleSon of John and Ann Sleeman of SydenhamDate of Birth18 April 1887Place of BirthSheffield, CanterburyDate of Death4 November 1916Place of DeathLondonCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death28
Ernest enlisted on 18 November 1915 at Trentham and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He embarked from Wellington on 4 March 1916 with the 10th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted Rifles. They were bound for Suez, Egypt and disembarked on 8 April 1916. They headed to camp at Moascar and during the Divisional re-organisation he was transferred to the Canterbury Infantry battalion on 2 May 1916. With them he sailed for France on board the Ivernia and headed to depot at Etaples. He was admitted to hospital with laryngitis but was discharged after a week. He re-joined his battalion in the field on 1 July but was wounded in action on 17 September 1916 probably during the battle for Flers –Courcelette. He had been struck by shell fragments during the heavy bombardment and suffered wounds to his right leg and left arm. He was evacuated on board the Hospital ship Brighton for England days later and admitted to hospital at Bethnal Green on 24 September. However these were the days before antibiotics and he died of his wounds and exhaustion on 4 November 1916 aged 28. Ernest was buried in the City of London Cemetery at Manor Park, Essex (plot 235. 91006). Ernest is remembered on both the Malvern County and Sheffield War Memorials.
Many of the soldiers buried here died in Bethnal Green Military Hospital. The Screen Wall at the back of the War Graves Plot commemorates by name those buried in the plot or in graves elsewhere in the cemetery which could not be marked by headstones and those who were cremated in the City of London Crematorium.First NameErnest AlbertLast NameSleemanFamilySingleSon of John and Ann Sleeman of SydenhamDate of Birth18 April 1887Place of BirthSheffield, CanterburyDate of Death4 November 1916Place of DeathLondonCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death28
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialSheffield War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryLondon Cemetery at Manor ParkMalvern County War MemorialSheffield War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details18th November 1915 at TrenthamService Number7/2313CountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private Ernest Albert Sleeman. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/317