December 26, 2019|

A Casualty of the Great War – E. E. Pharoah

ERNEST EDWARD PHAROAH

Gunner Ernest Edward Pharoah was one of the fourteen children of George, a local farmer, and his wife Mary.

Ernest worked as a cowman on his father’s farm at Whiteley Pastures before becoming an attendant at Knowle Hospital.

Enlisting at Brockhurst, Gosport in November 1915, Ernest became a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Wounded in the First Battle of Passchendaele on 12th October 1917, Ernest died four days later at a casualty clearing station in Lijssenthoek . He is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, the second largest CWGC cemetery in Belgium after Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Among Ernest’s effects, sent to his mother in March 1918, were:

Letters, photo, note book, English-French book, tobacco pouch, card, 2 discs, 3 letters, 18 carat gold ring, cap badge.

Ernest’s brother Andrew John Pharoah was a Charge Infirmary Attendant at the hospital. He served as a sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps for which he gained the Military Medal – granted to recognise the ‘individual or associated acts of bravery’.

Andrew returned to his duties at Knowle, living at 6 Knowle Cottages until the late 1920s when he moved to Wickham Lodge, Knowle.

Two other brothers, George and Wilfred, served and survived the First World War.

Jane Painter