3/7338 Private Erasmus Lionel Trickett
Killed in action 23 February 1915 age 22.
Erasmus was the elder of Mark & Faith Trickett’s two sons. He was born in Kinson in 1893, but by 1901 the family were living in Ford View, Tricketts Cross. Faith died in 1903, leaving Mark with a young family of five to look after. Erasmus decided to work at a local nursery as a labourer until he enlisted in August 1914. After completing his training he was sent to France on 27th January 1915 to join the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment at Ypres Salient. There the soldiers served three days in the trenches then were withdrawn for three days rest before returning to the trenches for another three days. There was a hostile attack on the trenches at St. Eloi where Erasmus was killed less than four weeks after arriving in France and like many others his body was not found.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
As well as being commemorated at West Parley, his name is on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres immediately above that of his brother William.
Excerpts taken from Lesley Wilson’s book
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We Will Remember Them