Ernest Clive Atkins

Colonel

Ernest Clive Atkins

CB TD DL JP

E.C. Atkins CB TD DL JP

Born| 13 February 1870
Died| 9 January 1953
Allegiance|  United Kingdom
Service / branch|  British Army
Rank| Colonel
Commands| 2/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment
Battles / wars| World War I
Awards| CB TD
Other work| High Sheriff of Leicestershire and Justice of the peace

Colonel Ernest Clive Atkins CB TD DL JP (13 February 1870 – 9 January 1953) was Battalion Commander of the 2/5th Leicestershire Regiment during World War I, High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1931 and Chairman of the Leicestershire Territorial Association in 1938.[1][2][3][4][5]

## Life

[edit]

Ernest Clive Atkins, the eldest son of Arthur Atkins of Middlefield, Hinckley, was born 13 February 1870.[1][6] He was educated at Bedford Modern School between 1882 and 1886.[6][7][8][9]

Atkins was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment on 22 April 1892.[10] He was made Captain in 1896, Major in 1903 and commanded the newly formed 4th Battalion as Lieutenant-Colonel until 1909.[10][11] In 1914, as Lieutenant-Colonel, he raised and commanded the 2/5th Battalion from 1914 until 1917,[12] including during the Easter Rising of 1916.[1][10] After 1917, Atkins commanded battalions of the East Surrey Regiment and the Middlesex Regiment.[10]

Atkins was a military member of the TA Association of Leicestershire from 1908, Vice-Chairman between 1934 and 1938 and chairman from 1938 for which he was made CB.[10] In 1940, he was appointed first Honorary Colonel of the 2/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment.[13]

Atkins was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire in 1928,[14] and High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1931.[3]

In 1900 Atkins married Agnes Pidcock, the daughter of Reverend Benjamin Pidock of Easton, Hampshire.[1] They had three sons and one daughter. Atkins died on 9 January 1953.[1][4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Atkins, Col Ernest Clive, (13 Feb. 1870–9 Jan. 1953), DL; JP Leicestershire". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U234223. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
2. ^ McCue, Paul (January 2010). Wandsworth and Battersea Battalions in the Great War. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 9781848841949. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
3. ^ a b "The High Sheriff – Leicestershire County Council". leics.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
4. ^ a b "Lt Col Ernest Clive Atkins". BillionGraves. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
5. ^ "First World War Infantry Battalion Commanding Officers – Page 24". ww1infantrycos.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
6. ^ a b ATKINS OF HINCKLEY: 1722–1972 by J.S. Atkins. Atkins, Ltd. Hinckley, 1972. Page 40
7. ^ Godber, Joyce (1973). The Harpur Trust, 1552-1973. ISBN 0950291706. OCLC 903515 - via worldcat.org.
8. ^ Underwood, Andrew (1981). Bedford Modern School of the black & red. ISBN 9780950760803. OCLC 16558393 - via worldcat.org.
9. ^ The Leicestershire Historian, Vol. 2, No. 4, 1973, p. 40
10. ^ a b c d e "Have you a Tiger in your family? – Royal Leicestershire Regiment Online Archive – RLR". royalleicestershireregiment.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
11. ^ The London Gazette, 25 September 1908, Issue 28180, p. 6949
12. ^ "The Times, including (p. 2, col. 6) The London Gazette supplement report". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
13. ^ Supplement to The London Gazette, 30 January 1940, Issue 34781, p. 600
14. ^ The London Gazette, 16 November 1928, Issue 33439, p. 7462