Abraham James Ackerman (b. June 1894, d. 14 April 1915)
Abraham James Ackerman (son of Abraham James Ackerman and Ada Grey) was born June 1894 in Mitcham, Surrey, and died 14 April 1915 in Ypres, France.
Notes for Abraham James Ackerman: Abraham (10262) joined the 4th Battalion,East Surrey Regiment, Special Reserve at Kingston-upon-Thames on 16th Jan 1911. He was 17 and 10 months, quite short 5 7. He also had 2 scars on the outside of both thighs and on the left forearm. His complexion was dark, eyes blue and hair black. His occupation prior to joining up was a Plumbers Mate.
At some point he was transfered to the 1st Battalion and was station in Ireland prior to WWI, Abraham was admitted hospital in Curragh for scabies* between 5th and 21st November 1912. His Medal card indicates that he embarked /landed in France on 16th August 1914. Details of his service indicate that on 13th March 1914 he gained his Lance Stripe. On 21st September 1914 he was admitted to hospital for scabies*. On 31st August 1914 he was reported missing from his Unit and on 11th September 1914 he was deprived of his Lance Stripe and sent to rest camp for misconduct at Le Mans, France. During his stay at the rest camp he was transferred to No. 3 Hospital in St. Nazaire, France, once again for scabies*.
Private A. J. Ackerman 10262, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, Died 14th April 1915 and is buried at Chester Farm Cemetery, Ypres, France. He was proberly killed in the defence of Hill 60. Hill 60 in 1914 was merely a low ridge some 150 feet high and 250 yard from end to end, formed artificially when the railway cutting was dug, receiving this name from our troops as signifying its height in metres on the contour map.
The 1st Battalion The East Surreys joined the 14th Brigade of the 5th Division of the British Expeditionary Force and, during the first few months of the War gained honours at Mons, Le Cateau, on the Marne and on the Aisne. In the Spring it probably achieved its finest feat of the war in the Defence of Hill 60 near Ypres on 23rd April 1915. During this action, the Battalion gained three VCs, two Military Crosses (MCs) and seven Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCMs). On 10th April 1915, the 1st and 2nd Battalions met for the first time since the old 31st Foot and 70th Foot had met on active service during the 18th Century French Revolutionary Wars. The 1st Battalion served in France during the entire War except for a short tour in Italy from 1917 to Spring 1918. Following the Armistice, it went to Russia, operating along the Murmansk railway.
It is quite possibile that Abraham took part in the Christmas truce of 1914, where British and German troops sung and met each other in no-mans land. During the afternoon and early evening of 23rd December 1914, British infantry are astonished to see many Christmas trees with candles and paper lanterns, on enemy parapets. There is much singing of carols, hymns and popular songs, and a gradual exchange of communication and even meetings in some areas. Many of these meetings are to arrange collection of bodies. In other places, firing continues. Battalion officers are uncertain how to react; in general they maintain precautions.
Abraham was awarded 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals. Abraham was awarded the least common campaign medal: the 1914 Star, Popularly but inaccurately known as the Mons Star.
The Mons Star was awarded to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and all men of the British and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed with military hospitals; as well as men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who served with the establishment of their unit in France and Belgium between August 5th 1914, and midnight of November 22/23rd, 1914. The decoration consists of a lacquered bronze star, the uppermost ray of the star taking the form of the imperial crown. Resting on the face of the star is a pair of crossed swords, and, on them, is a circular oak wreath. A scroll winds around the swords : it is inscribed with the date Aug.- Nov. 1914. The ribbon is red merging into white and then into blue. A bar inscribed "5 Aug. to 22 Nov. 1914" was given to all those who served under fire. Since the same ribbon is used with the 1914-15 Star, holders of the earlier award were permitted to wear a small silver rosette on their ribbon when the decoration itself is not worn. On the medal index cards this is usually noted as the "Clasp and Roses". Only 365,622 Stars were ever issued
Location:
Chester Farm Military Cemetery is located 4 km south east of Ieper town centre, on the Vaartstraat, a road leading from the Komenseweg connecting Ieper to Komen (N336). From Ieper town centre the Komenseweg is located via the Rijselsestraat, through the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) and crossing the Ieper ring road, towards Armentieres and Lille. The road name then changes to Rijselseweg. 1 km along the Rijselseweg lies the left hand turning onto the Komenseweg. 2.3 km along the Komenseweg lies the right hand turning onto Vaartstraat. The cemetery is located 1.5 km along the Vaartstraat on the right hand side of the road.
*Scabies is a contagious (catching) disorder of the skin caused by very small, wingless insects or mites called the Human Itch mite or Scabies itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis (Hering). The female insect burrows into the skin where she lays 1 - 3 eggs daily. A very small, hard to see, zigzag blister usually marks the trail of the insect as she lays her eggs. Other more obvious symptoms are an intense itching (especially at night) and a red rash that can occur at the area that has been scratched. The most common locations for scabies are on the sides of fingers, between the fingers, on the backs of the hands, on the wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs and around the waist (belt line). If untreated, the female will continue to lay eggs for about five weeks. The eggs hatch and the new mites begin the cycle all over again. The mites themselves are too small to be seen without magnification. One of the great problems with scabies always has been misdiagnosis. Scabies is spread by personal contact, e.g., by shaking hands or sleeping together or by close contact with infected articles such as clothing, bedding or towels. It is usually found where people are crowded together or have frequent contact, and is most common among school children, families, roommates, and sexual partners. Scabies can be spread by the insect itself or by the egg. Prompt action is required to rid a person of the insects and eggs. Sulfur has been used (6 - 10% in lotion or cream) since Roman times as a scabicide.
More About Abraham James Ackerman: Occupation: 1910, Plumbers Mate.70 Residence: 1901, 2 Railway Cottage, Mitcham, Surrey..71
Abraham James Ackerman (b. June 1894, d. 14 April 1915)
Notes for Abraham James Ackerman: