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Ernest William Wedlock - Essex County Constabulary.
Served from 17th December 1896.
Died 13th September 1918.

Ernest’s father, William, joined the Essex County Constabulary as a 19 year old on 1st October 1871. Ramsden Bellhouse was one of the many stations he served during his 27-year career, and it was here that Ernest, the eldest son, was born to Caroline.

On 17 December 1896, at the age of 22, Ernest gave up his job as a clerk to follow father into the force; William by then had risen to the rank of sergeant and was serving in Orsett.

Ernest, who stood 5ft 8in on his enlistment, served first in Southend before transferring to Colchester, where on Christmas Day 1901 he married 24-year-old Lucy Selina Talbot, the daughter of a pork butcher, at St James’s Church.

Subsequent service took him to Harwich, Boxted, Braintree, Coggeshall and Maldon. By the outbreak of the First World War, Ernest Wedlock was stationed at Epping Upland, with his wife and children installed in Rose Cottage in Epping Green. He left the Essex Constabulary on 31 May 1915 to enlist, in Epping, and he was initially posted to the Essex Regiment.

He was killed on Friday 13th September 1918, while serving as Sergeant 84009 in the 141st Company, Labour Corps. His widow learnt the circumstances of her husband’s death in a letter (reproduced in the Essex County Chronicle of 27 September 1918) from the Company Captain.

“It will be some little satisfaction to you to know that he suffered no pain, for he was dead at once. He was working in a ruined village with his platoon on work in connection with the advance, so that his death is recorded as killed in action. Your husband was the most efficient sergeant in this Company, and we all feel regret at his loss very much. In due course he would have proceeded to a School of Instruction with a view to taking a commission, which fact makes his death more regrettable.”

Pc Ernest Wedlock, who was 44, left behind nine children. He is buried in Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension in Pas de Calais, France (grave III. C. 11).

Police Constable 267. Serial Number 2278.

September 21, 2004 - Article updated with additional information compiled by Mr. Adrian Jones. Additional information taken mainly from the Essex County Chronicle and Essex Weekly News.

 

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