I was recently contacted by a gentleman living in Derby enquiring if I was any relation to Ernest Henry Charlton.  I was able to confirm that Ernest was in fact my 1st Cousin twice removed.  Intrigued by the question I carried out a little more research and discovered that Ernest had sadly lost his life on 31st March 1918 in action during the First World War at the Battle of the Somme.  He is buried in France where he rests in peace alongside the many thousands of other soldiers who lost their life in the Great War.  Ernest was only 38 when he died and he left a widow, Lucy Esther Charlton.
When I next had contact with the gentleman from Derby he explained that whilst he was looking round a charity shop he had stumbled across a very sad looking painting of a lonely shepherd guiding his flock to shelter.  The painting was by the artist Ernest Henry Charlton. Along with the painting was a photograph of Ernest and on the back of the painting was some hadwriting detailing some information about Ernest's wife.  So moved by this sad story of loss, the gentleman and his wife decided to buy the painting and they even paid for a professional to clean it and replace the frame.  It is now in very good condition and is much loved by the family taking pride of place in their living room.  The life of Ernest Henry Charlton and his wife Lucy was unknown to me until a few days ago but as a result of this gentleman's noble gesture, the memory of Ernest Henry Charlton lives on.