Ernest Altham

Age 22        Single

Lance Corporal 17010
18^th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers

Killed in action on
Sunday 15^th April 1917

Shortly after his birth, Ernest’s parents, George and Elizabeth, moved the family from Blackburn to live in Whalley Road, Sabden.  Ernest attended the county school and was a member of the Church Lads' Brigade. 

He began work at Messrs J Stuttard and Sons, Cobden Mill, Sabden as a weaver.  Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities Ernest enlisted in the army and after twelve months of training in England he was sent out to the front in France. 

Ernest’s parents had moved to Green Lane, Darwen and so it was through Ernest’s younger brother, Thos Altham, who still lived in the family’s Whalley Road home, that Sabden folk learnt the news of Ernest’s fate.  The oldest brother, William, who was serving as a driver in the Transport Service (A.S.C) in France, had sent a letter stating that their brother Ernest had been killed whilst under shellfire. 

Ernest has no known grave and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. 

In Sabden he has been remembered on both the School and Church Plaques.