Thank you to Jane Anthony for the following research.
Ebenezer Ayling, who was born in 1896, was one of 10 children of Henry Faithful Ayling and his wife Emily. Emily had been born in Holmwood where the family lived in 1901. By 1911 they had moved to Coldharbour at that time Ebenezer aged 16 was the oldest child still living at the parental home. He was working as a carpenter’s journeyman .
He enlisted in the 2nd battalion of the Queens Own Royal West Surrey Regiment at Dorking. However it is probable that he was seconded to 1st/4th Battalion of the regiment prior to departing of SS Alaumia on 29 October 1914. The SS Alaumia was a Cunard ship that had been built in 1913; it was requisitioned as a troop ship at the outbreak of the war. Ebenezer Ayling died on board the ship which was en route to India on 5th November 1914. He was 18 years old. No cause of death was given. The SS Alaumia continued serving as a troopship during the Gallipoli campaign and was torpedoed and sunk in 1916.
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| Born | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Lived | Holmwood, Surrey then Coldharbour, Surrey | |
| Son of | Henry Faithful and Emily Ayling | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | T/1713 | |
| Date of Death | 5th November 1914 | |
| Place of Death | At sea. En route to India | |
| Cause of Death | Unknown | |
| Age | 18 | |
| Memorial | Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton |
