Ernest William Causton

The following information was kindly provided by Ray Furminger, whose Grandfather was Patrol member Ernest Causton’s youngest brother:

Ernest William Causton is interred in Ashwicken cemetery, which is a couple of miles west of Gayton. I lived with him, his wife and daughter during the war in Well Hall Lane, Ashwicken. He told me a few things about his "clandestine" activities during WW2 while out on patrol. One of which was breaking into a base [Gt Massingham?] with members of his Patrol and that there were "red" faces on the base the following day. This achievement particularly delighted him because as I recall he struggled to maintain his composure while recounting the story to me sometime in the late 70's or early 80's.

Unfortunately, I did not appreciate the significance of these gems of news at the time of being told. I also remember the name Haggas being mentioned as one of the Patrol members [The Haggas family had a farm at the top of Well Hall Lane]. Sergeant Haggas is cited as a Patrol member. Of course Lord Romney's name was mentioned several times by Ernest but I cannot recall in what specific context. 

My (Great) Uncle Ernie, as I used to call, him fought in WW1 and was in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. He was in the Norfolk Regiment along with his first cousin Ernest Edgar Causton who regrettably was killed in battle and is buried in Palestine at the Deir el Belah War Cemetery. Unbelievably, The CWGC sent me a photograph of his headstone. Ernest Causton survived the battle.

Another name on the list of Patrol members is an Robert Pennell. At that time he was the Licensee of the White Hart Public House in Gayton (now no longer in existence). He was the husband of a Kathleen May Causton who was the daughter of Ernest's older brother Robert Causton who was the licensee of the White Hart before his son-in-law (Robert Pennell) became the licensee in the 1930's.