Waters, Ernest Edward
Age: 19
Date of birth: October 1896
Parents: George Albert and Ann Elizabeth Waters
Wife: Single
Address: Hatton Hill, near Warwick
Occupation: Carter
Ernest Edward Waters was baptised at Wilmcote on October 20th 1896. He was the second child of (George) Albert and (Ann) Elizabeth Waters.
In the 1901 census, Ernest (4) was living with his parents Albert and Elizabeth in Aston Cantlow and sister Winifred (1). His elder brother, Charles Benjamin was also living in Aston Cantlow but at the home of his grandparents. His father Albert was working as a stone quarryman.
By 1911 (George) Albert and Elizabeth (Ann) Waters were living at Hatton Hill with Ernest and their youngest son Percy James (7) and daughters Winifred Ellen (11) and Dorothy Elizabeth (4) plus a nephew Ernest A Houghton (who was 20 and a cowman on a farm). Ernest was working as a farm boy.
Warwick Advertiser 16th September 1916 – Roll of Honour
By 1939 Ernest’s parents were living at 21, Shrewley Lodge Farm, just outside Warwick.
George Albert died in 1952 in Stratford upon Avon and Ann Elizabeth died in 1958 in Warwick at the age of 87.
Ernest’s older brother, Charles Benjamin, also died in France and is commemorated on the Warwick War Memorial, due to his having married and lived in Warwick
Note: Both George Albert and Ann Elizabeth (as their names appeared in their baptism records) appear to have transposed their forenames on official forms, such as the census’ of 1819, 1901, 1911 and 1939 – hence they sometimes appear as Albert and Elizabeth as well as George and Ann!
Military Service
Rank & Number: Rifleman, R/8308
Regiment/Service: 8th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Brigade/Division:
Date of death: Tuesday 22nd August 1916
Cause of death/Battle: Died at Rouen Hospital, of wounds received in action
Commemorated/Buried: St Sever Cemetery, Rouen
Awards: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: Hatton, Haseley, Shrewley & Beausale Cross (WMR 19500), Hatton Village Hall - WW1 Plaque (WMR 19505)
Ernest signed up at Warwick on 19th December 1914, aged 18.
He was posted to the 8th Service Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in Winchester. He was further posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force on 18th May 1915.
Ernest was wounded in action on 17th August and died on 22nd August 1916 at Rouen hospital. His mother wrote to the Corps requesting his effects, and specifically his watch, in December 1916.
Contributors
- Unlocking Warwick Research Group
- Warwick Advertiser excerpt courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office