Lt Seaforth Highlanders “A” Coy. 4th Bn.

Died 07/08/1916  Age 21  Grave III. A. 1. PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY 

Son of William and Rona Amy Elizabeth Finch, of Southdown House, West Wickham, Kent. Late of Beckenham. Ernest Wilfred Rupert Finch died at the age of 21 on 7 August 1916 as Lt in the A Company of the 4th battalion and is buried at Puchevilier’s British Cemetery. He had enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war and quickly promoted to company quartermaster sergeant from where he soon obtained his commission and was acting captain for several months after returning to the front in July 1915. After a year of trench warfare and recent severe fighting he fell mortally wounded by a bursting shell. He died on 7 August 1916 in a casualty station. He was well known locally as a footballer and cricketer and would be widely missed in Beckenham.