Private Ernest Reason from Stratford was taken prisoner but not a casualty of First World War
THE sacrifice made by those who served in both world wars will be revealed during two free tours of Stratford Cemetery next Saturday where visitors can also find out about Private Ernest Reason the man who didn’t die but whose name appears on the town’s war memorial as killed in action, 1915.
Ernest was born on 25th May 1889, the son of George and Elizabeth Reason, who lived in Mansell Street, Stratford but was later thought to have died on the frontline in France aged 26. However, Ernest wasn’t dead he was injured with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and captured and held prisoner of war in Limberg an der Lahn, Germany.
The confusion over Ernest’s reported death was eventually unravelled by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) who have no record of Private Reason dying during the First World War even though a letter from the front sent to his father announced his death on 30th July while serving with the 9th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles.
His medal card shows Private Reason as being awarded the campaign medals; British Victory Medal, British War Medal and the 1915 Star. They also show him being discharged from the army on 7th May 1918 and awarded a war pension having been returned to England before the war ended as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between Britain and Germany.
Before he enlisted in 1914, Ernest had moved to Birmingham and married Francis; the couple had three sons.
News that Ernest was in fact alive appeared in the Birmingham Daily Mail which published two notices announcing his wife had learnt he was not dead but a prisoner in a German hospital.
He returned to Birmingham where he eventually died aged 65 in August 1954.
A war story which goes far deeper than official records and there are many more stories about those who gave their lives in both world wars and who rest in peace in Stratford Cemetery.
Their bravery and contribution can now be told once more when CWGC volunteers bring War Graves Week to the town offering free tours at Stratford Cemetery, Evesham Road on Saturday 27th May.
War Graves Week helps people discover the world war heritage on their doorstep and to learn about the skills and dedication of CWGC staff and volunteers who work to keep the memory of the fallen alive in perpetuity. Their work has been greatly assisted by records taken from For King and Country – The fallen of Stratford on Avon by Michael J. Caldwell.
CWGC staff will be at the cemetery between 10am and 3pm on Saturday with free tours taking place at 11am and 1pm.
Tours will be led by resident, Ewan Cuthbertson, who is a volunteer for the CWGC. Ewan said: “For us, the remembrance and the sharing and caring of our world war heritage is a daily duty. Behind every name on a war grave or memorial in Stratford cemetery is a human story waiting to be discovered and War Graves Week is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
“I’d encourage everyone in Stratford to join one of the tours to reconnect with their local history to learn about the courageous ordinary people from our community who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
The Stratford are became the site of many military training camps, hospitals, airbases and prisoner of war camps during both wars.
Accidents, wounds, and illness as well as enemy action took its grim toll on service men and women from the many nations serving in the area.
A walk around the municipal cemetery illustrates this international sacrifice made with gravestones of men from Canada, Germany, Australia, USA, Italy, New Zealand and Czechoslovakia which lie alongside others who hail from every corner of the UK.
There are 144 casualties within a dedicated CWGC plot of regimented Portland stone, a further 29 are scattered amongst the sprawling civilian cemetery, whilst a few are commemorated on family headstones but lie buried or lost in foreign lands.
To book a tour, visit www.cwgc.org/toursor visit the cemetery on the day.
