Ernest Baugh

Born in Woodside, Croydon in April 1874, Ernest Baugh was working as a photographer before he enlisted as a Regular soldier in The Durham Light Infantry at Kingston on Thames in July 1892. He was soon promoted to Sergeant and was a Colour Sergeant with the 1st Battalion DLI, when he sailed for South Africa and the Boer War in December 1899. In the campaign to relieve Ladysmith, Colour Sergeant Baugh was badly wounded on 6 February 1900, when 1 DLI unsuccessfully attacked Vaal Krantz. After his recovery, Ernest Baugh transferred in 1903 to the 2nd Battalion DLI. An expert shot, Ernest Baugh won both The Champion's Medal at the 2nd Battalion DLI's Regimental Rifle Meeting in 1907 and the Army Rifle Association's The Queen Victoria's Cup, again whilst serving with 2 DLI. After he left the Regular Army, Ernest Baugh served as a Sergeant Drill Instructor with 'C' Company, 6th (Territorial Force) Battalion DLI at Spennymoor. Ernest Baugh finally retired from the Army in June 1913 but during the First World War worked at Whitburn Rifle Range near Sunderland, as manager of the Regimental Institute or canteen.