231033 Sgt. Ernest George Shepherd British Army 112 Brigade Royal Artillery from:Bedale My Grandfather, Ernest George Shepherd, was a teacher before the War. It is said that he was teaching in Dortmund, Germany and that is where he learnt to speak German.
His attestation was sworn in Buxton, Derbyshire on the 18th September 1914. He went to school in New Mills, Derbyshire - there is a strong Methodist link and my Grandfather was a staunch Primitive Methodist. There is a hymn "What a friend we have in Jesus" which was probably sung by both sides, as the Germans have a hymn using the same tune.
It appears that he served at the Battle of Loos in 1915 and it is said that he suffered from the Chlorine Gas which was used.
He was gravely injured during the War. My Mother said that it was thought that he was dead, but then there was a flicker of life.
In his Military papers there is a very faint note that his left leg was amputated at the thigh on the 3rd of June 1918 in the Field Hospital, Rouen. The family story is that he joked about it, saying that now he would only have one boot to clean. He was awarded a pension and left the service in 1919.
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