Ernest Leonard Moon

Private, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

Age 14, Class: ‘Quite a good boy, works well.’

Ernest Leonard Moon was born on December 5^th 1897. He was a student at Alleyn’s until 1914 and lived at 10a Wingford Road, Brixton Hill with his father, W.A. Moon and his brother, Ronald Aubrey Moon. Ernest was first educated at New Park Road before he joined Alleyn’s in September 1909 after the London County Council agreed to fund his studies for three years. Ernest’s experience at Alleyn’s was mostly positive and he steadily improved throughout his time at the school, often being noted as a hard working student by his tutors. However, he struggled tremendously during his last year at school and his Academic Year for 1912/13 had to be repeated. As a result, Ernest spent two years of his time at Alleyn’s in the same class. He left at the age of 16, with his last year being one of his best academic performances.

After leaving school, Ernest found work as a Junior Clerk in the Port of London Authority. He continued in this role until the outbreak of war in August 1914 when he decided to enlist in the British Expeditionary Force. After being declared as medically fit for service, he joined the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment as a Private. Ernest served with the regiment on the Western Front and was involved in the major British operations in the Flanders area in the summer of 1917. It was during these operations that he was killed in action on June 21st 1917, at the age of 19. He is buried at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery in Belgium.