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Lieutenant
Ernest Kittle, a very late casualty of the Great War
Lieutenant Ernest Kittle was killed in the Great War,
one month before the armistice was signed. All losses
in that devastating conflict were terrible, of course,
but to have survived so much and to have got so far,
only to have your life taken away at the very last
minute, seems exceptionally hard. This is his story.
He was the only son of Mr and Mrs EJ Kittle, and was
born on 27 December 1885. He had been a pupil of what
was then known as Horsham Grammar School, and would
have been one of Dr Thompson's pupils at the new
establishment in Hurst Road, which was first opened in
1893. He later went to Tollington School in Muswell
Hill, and in 1907 qualified as a pharmacist. In May
1913 he gained a further qualification as an
ophthalmic optician, and he also possessed a diploma
from the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.
Probably in consequence of this he was made a Freeman
of the City of London on 10 June 1913.
So he had done pretty well, and by 1918 could be found
at 1 Carfax (tel: 87) – on the Middle Street corner
opposite the King's Head, where 'EAL Kittle MPS, FSMC,
FIO Lon.' advertised for business as a pharmacist and
ophthalmic optician, 'hours by appointment' and more
cryptically, 'analyses of water etc and medicated
wines'. He was also 'the dispenser by appointment' to
Christ's Hospital.
He married a local girl, Kathleen, the second daughter
of Sidney Rowlands, and in 1912 they had a baby boy.
His premises was in a prominent position in the town,
and he became a well known figure locally, apparently
held in high regard. For a period of about twelve
years he had been a member of the Horsham Volunteers,
and just before the war he joined the Sussex Yeomanry.
In 1914 he was on reserve, and immediately joined up.
He served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and saw more
than his fair share of drama. At Easter 1916 he was
with his squadron during the cavalry charge at the
taking of Monchy, when fighting took place in a snow
storm; later he was with the cavalry unit that played
its part in the capture of a trainload of Germans who
were vacating a town; and 'in a recent push' had his
helmet shot off and his arm bruised when a shell burst
to the right of his party.
He had been back in Horsham during the second half of
September 1918 on seventeen days' leave, no doubt
checking on how the business had been during his
absence, as well as enjoying the company of his wife
and six year old son . He returned to the front on 1
October, but nine days later he was a dead man.
On 13 October Kathleen Kittle received the wire that
all wives must have dreaded. The staccato text stated
'with deep regret that Lieutenant Kittle, of the 2nd
Dragoon Guards (they got that wrong), had died of
wounds on 10 October'. The Army Council expressed its
sympathy.
A letter from Captain Nigel Worthington, commanding
'A' Squadron, followed.on 18 October. Worthington
wrote well and from the heart; this was no formulaic
piece of work. He said: 'It is my duty to inform you
that your husband died of wounds received in action on
9 October. It is some comfort to know that he gave his
life riding gallantly in front of his troop through
heavy artillery and machine gun fire. He was hit
through the body by a machine gun bullet. Afterwards
he was sleeping quietly in the collecting station and
I do not think he was in much pain. He was one of my
best officers – loved by all. He was the life and soul
of the men and we shall all miss him. Please accept
most sincerely the sympathy of all the squadron and
the regiment. Only the day before he showed me a
picture of his boy and how proud he was. He has set
him a noble example'.
Another letter came, from one of Kittle's comrades:
'He was so popular with all ranks that we feel we have
lost not only a good soldier but a personal friend'.
Additionally there were letters of sympathy from
Horsham people. Many had felt his loss.
Barely a month later the war was over. The armistice
was signed on 16 November ('Peace rejoicing at
Horsham' as the local paper put it), townsfolk flocked
down the Causeway for an impromptu thanksgiving
service, and 'flags quickly appeared in the streets'
when the news was heard.
But what of Kathleen Kittle? How could she rejoice?
Even after all these years, almost a century ago, her
distress from her last minute loss does not bear
thinking about. Who knows what happened to her, and
her son; let us hope life went on to treat them well.
But it is possible she did not stay in Horsham, and
within a year or so Ernest Kittle's business had been
transferred to R Gallier, and the Kittle name
disappears from the scene.
postscript: Ernest Kittle's name is
commemorated on the Carfax war memorial, and he is
buried in France at Roisel Communal Cemetery
Extension., near Peronne. The Commonwealth War Graves
Commission's listing describes him as being a member
of the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Roisel town was
occupied by British troops in April 1917 but evacuated
in March 1918. It was retaken the following September.
In October and November 1918 burials from the 41st,
48th, 53rd and 58th casualty clearing stations were
made at the cemetery. If you are in the neighbourhood
do pay a visit. |
