According to Soldiers
Died in The Great War, Ernest Plummer was born in Crawley, Sussex, enlisted
at Grove Park (London) and gave his residence as Lewes.
In March 1915,
Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Ernest Plummer is serving his King and Country and In October that year adds the additional
information that he is a private with the Royal Sussex Regiment in England. The following month it adds that he is with the 2nd
South Downs. Ernest Plummer’s regimental
number was SD/1643, the SD portion of that refering to South Downs. The 11th, 12th and 13th Royal Sussex Regiment were also known as the
1st, 2nd and 3rd South Downs; Pals-type battalions which in time would find themselves assigned to a division (the 39th),
with other Pals’ battalions.
By March 1916,
Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Ernest Plummer is now a lance-corporal and still in England but by July he was featuring in The East Sussex News. In
its July 14th issue, under a sub-heading, “CHAILEY – LOCAL CASUALTIES” it reported, “Corporal E Plummer
of the [12th] Royal Sussex Regiment, [39th Div] whose house is at Coppards Bridge, Chailey, has received a bayonet wound in France.”
Chailey Parish
Magazine notes in its July 1916 issue that Ernest Plummer is in France and the following month, that he has been wounded.
On September 15th 1916, The East Sussex News again reported on Lance-Corporal Plummer: “SOLDIER
KILLED. Corpl E Plummer of the Royal Sussex Regiment, whose wife and five children live at Chailey, has been killed in action.”
The following
month, in its roll of honour, Chailey Parish Magazine reported that Ernest Plummer had died of wounds on 3rd September 1916. The Commonwealth War
Graves’ Commission confirms the date of death and also provides the additional information that he was the husband of
Mrs J Blackman (formerly Plummer) of 6 Row, South Street, Chailey, Sussex.
Ernest Plummer
is buried at Couin British Cememtery, France;
grave reference IV.A.1. He is not believed to be directly related to the three
Plummer brothers Albert, Alexander and Owen who were also killed in the First World War.
Sources & Acknowledgments:
- Chailey Parish Magazine
- The East Sussex News
- The National Archives – Medal Information Cards
- Soldiers Died In The Great War
- The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s Roll of Honour
- Mr R J Plummer of Chailey, Sussex
- Bob Pike for the photograph of Ernest Plummer's last resting place
