Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Ezra Breadstall

07/10/1866 –1932

Labourer who on attempting to join army was discharged as unfit due to his small size.

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave: Ezra Breadstall (1866-1932)

Ezra was born 7 October 1866 in Flamstead, the son of blacksmith Francis “Frank” Breadstall  and his wife Dinah (née Robinson). He was baptised 4 November that year in the parish church.

In the 1871 census the family were living on the High Road in Caddington, a village close to Luton. At the time his mother supplemented the family income as a straw plaiter, no doubt selling her plait to the agents of the straw hat makers of Luton. Little Ezra had three older brothers and three older sisters.

By 1881 the Breadstalls had moved to Markyate Street Caddington. Frank was still working as a blacksmith and Dinah was a plaiter. Ezra was employed as a farm labourer and two of his sisters and one brother were also at home, employed as bonnet sewers. That would have been piece-work done at home for the Luton hat manufacturers.

Frank died when Ezra was eighteen. At the age of 22 years 10 months he attempted to join up with the 3^rd Corps of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He gave his occupation as farm labourer and his residence as Flamstead and signed the declaration with a cross.

He record shows that he was 5 foot 3 ½ inches tall, had a chest measurement of 34 ½ inches and weighed 142lb (64.41kg). His complexion was “fresh”, his eyes grey and his hair brown. He had a slight scar in the centre of his forehead and one on his right knee. Ezra declared himself to be a member of the Church of England.

However, once he got to the medical officer on 9 December 1893, he was declared “unfit” because he was under the regulation height and discharged as “Unlikely to become an efficient soldier.”

In 1901 Ezra was living with his brother Thomas in Markyate High Street. Both were employed as general labourers.

It has not been possible to trace Ezra in the 1911 or 1921 censuses, probably because of transcription errors with his surname.

He died in Berkhamsted in 1932.