Ernest was born in Norwich on 18th March 1892. He enlisted in the army two months after his brother William on 7th November 1914 and, like his brother, Ernest was posted first to Shorncliffe and then to Aldershot for training. Ernest was not, however, posted to France until 30th July 1915, joining his brother on the front line Ploegsteert.

In October 1915, the Battle of Loos was underway. The 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment was in trenches on the front line. On 13th October, the fighting was coming to an end when the battalion came under intense fire from enemy forces. By the end of the day it was over, but at a cost to the battalion: eight officers were killed and three wounded. Amongst the “Other Ranks”, one hundred and fifty were listed as dead or wounded. Ernest was one of those hurt, receiving wounds to his scalp and right leg.

Ernest was treated in France for a month before being sent home on the hospital ship Munich. After further hospitalisation in England, Ernest was discharged from the services on 28th June 1916. Less than two weeks later, he started work at St Audry’s Hospital as an attendant and remained there until after the war was over.

In 1921, Ernestmarried Florence J Hooper in Ipswich and, by 1939, they were living in Norwich with their two children. Ernest worked as a railway bill poster and both he and Florence were Air Raid Wardens in the Second World War. He died in 1963 in the King’s Lynn area. For his war service, Ernest received the 1914-15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals along with the Silver War Badge.