218541 Pte. Ernest Samuel Thompson British Army 1st Btn. Hertfordshire Regiment from:Eight Bells, Baldock My Grandfather Ernest Thompson was an early volunteer and went to France in January 1915; He served with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. He was wounded - shot through the right hand and elbow - in May 1915 and subsequently sent home. He was honourably discharged in January 1916.
Although he didn't talk about his experiences I do have a postcard he sent to my Grandmother when he was in France asking her to knit some more socks as they were standing in constant mud. I remember him telling me about the Christmas football match, which he probably heard about on his arrival in France. In later life, he worked around his injuries, which also included being gassed, and he always said that he would be all right if he could get a new set of lungs! Not many years later, hearts and lungs were being transplanted.
My Grandfather painted a postcard-size picture of the Hertfordshire Regiment insignia with his left-hand (as his right hand was injured), possibly during his recuperation? He played cricket for Baldock Town at some stage but more especially for Kryn and Lahy where he was primarily a bowler. I used to sit with my Grandfather listening to cricket and cleaning his medals - wonderful days and memories. He invariably had bronchitis as a result of his damaged lungs and subsequently succumbed to this damage;
He never received a war pension which would not be allowed today.
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