Ernest Rathmell was born at Pannal on 4th September 1896, one of seven children born to Benjamin and Emma Rathmell. After Benjamin died in July 1907, Emma married George Fisher on 22nd May 1909. The 1911 Census return shows Ernest as a 14-year-old apprentice nurseryman living at 2 Sandy Bank Terrace in Pannal with his step-father, his mother, three surviving sisters, and two uncles.
Ernest was under-age when he voluntarily enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment on 14th August 1914, just ten days after the outbreak of war, and was posted to "A" Company of the regiment's 9th Battalion. He was with the battalion when it disembarked on the Gallipoli peninsula at Suvla Bay on 6th August 1915. Two weeks later, the battalion took part in a major attack against Turkish positions, the events of which were briefly summarised in the battalion's war diary:
On the night of the 20th-21st of August the 9th West Yorkshire Battalion left the beach and occupied the trenches at the bottom of the southern slope of Chocolate Hill on the left of the 6th York & Lancs. Battalion.
The battalion received orders to attack at 15.05 on the 21st of August in rear of the Yorkshires and York & Lancs. - to move forward through the two lines of Turkish trenches to be taken by these two battalions, and secure the summit of Ismailuglu Tepe.
D Company moved forward first as firing line under 2nd Lt. H. A. Gough supported by A and B companies under Major Cuthell and 2nd Lt. A. B. Gent, with C Company in reserve as the third line under 2nd Lt. Walsh. The battalion moved forward in this order but owing to the regiments in front failing to secure the first lines of Turkish trenches, were held up and had to dig in. This they did with the entrenching tool on the night of the 21st-22nd of August, remaining in the position during the day of the 22nd until relieved on the night of the 22nd-23rd.
At least sixty-six officers and men from the battalion lost their lives at Suvla between 21st and 23rd August. Ernest Rathmell was among those declared missing and presumed killed in action on 22nd August. He has no known grave and is instead commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli.