Ernest Gay
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was baptised 'William Ernest' but was known as Ernest. He was the son of George Henry (also Henry George) and Julia Gay (nee Davis). Ernest's father was the son of Daniel and Sarah Gay and was born in Bathampton, Somerset, probably in about 1857. He was baptised 'Henry George' in Bathampton in the parish of Batheaston on 28 February 1858. His mother, Julia Davis was born in Bristol, her birth probably registered in 1855 (J/F/M) although the likely entry for Julia on the 1939 England & Wales Register gave her date of birth as 7 January 1854. George and Julia were married in 1878 (O/N/D Bath) and from information on the census records between 1881 and 1901 had at least seven children who were all born in Bath (some specified as Walcote, Bath). The five oldest were all baptised on 19 May 1887 at Lyncombe St Mark in the parish of St Mark, Bath, and their dates of birth are taken from the baptismal register: Ada Louisa b 19 March 1879, Lily Georgina b. 29 May 1880, Julia Maud b. 10 July 1882, Thomas George (k/a George) b. 12 January 1885 and William Ernest (k/a Ernest) b. 2 April 1887. The two youngest children were Albert Daniel birth registered 1890 (J/F/M Bath) and Eliza Ellen birth registered 1893 (J/F/M Bath). In 1881 George (25) a gardener, and Julia (26) a laundress, were living at 1 Bell Inn Cottages, Bath with their two daughters, Ada (3) and Lily (1). By 1891 George, now employed as a general labourer, and Julia were living on Avon Street, Bath, with their six children, Ada, Lily, Julia (9), George (6), Ernest (4) and Albert (1). By 1901 the family had moved to Summerfield Cottages, Clifton Road, Bath. George was working as a dustman for Bath Corporation while Julia was a charwoman. Only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census: George a blacksmith's labourer, Ernest, Albert and Eliza (8). Ada has not been traced after 1891, Lily Georgina had married Henry Brain on 2 December 1899 at Bath Register Office and was living independently (d. 1960) while Julia, the third daughter, was a laundress and registered at the House of Refuge, Marlboro Hill, Bristol. Julia probably died in 1903 at the age of 19. Ernest and Albert have not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. George Henry probably died in 1905 (O/N/D Bath) aged 48 and the evidence is that his widow and at least Ernest and Albert then moved to Nottingham. Albert attested on 19 August 1907 in Nottingham and joined the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He was 18 years 9 months old and had previously been employed as a merchant seaman. By 1911 he was serving with the 1st Battalion in India. Ernest married Sarah Elizabeth Cockayne (also Cokayne) in 1909 (reg. Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 1 Canaan Street, Nottingham. Ernest was a leather dresser while Sarah (21) was a cotton doubler. They had one daughter, Ethel Julia b. 26 April 1910 and a son, Ernest George, was born the following year (1912 J/A/S). Both children were baptised in Nottingham (no details available). At the time of Ernest's death in November 1914 the family was still living at 1 Canaan Street although the widowed Sarah had moved house by at least November 1916 (NEP notice). However, according to reports in the local papers of an attempt by Sarah to commit suicide in May 1918, she was living at Lowe's Place, Leen Side, Nottingham (see 'Extra information'). Sarah may have died in 1955 (reg. Nottingham). Ernest's brother, Albert Daniel, was killed in action on 9 January 1915 while serving with the Sherwood Foresters; he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. A newspaper report of his death gave his address as Ellis Terrace, Northville Street, Nottingham. In 1919 Albert's mother provided a form for the Army listing her son's surviving blood relatives. The document is largely illegible but it shows that Albert had neither wife nor children. His mother, who at one time had lived at 10 Harold Terrace, Pole Street, Nottingham, was then living at 5 Pemberton Place, Leen Side, Nottingham. The document was signed by Julia with a cross, 'her mark'. (See record on this ROH.) Ernest's mother Julia was probably a patient (or inmate) in the Public Assistance Institute, 700 Hucknall Road, Nottingham, at the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register. Her date of birth was given as 7 January 1854. She died aged 88 in 1942 (reg. Nottingham). Of Ernest and Sarah's two children: Ethel Julia married Lelsie Cooper (b. 1910) in 1937 (reg. Nottingham). In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register they were living in Nottingham; Ethel was a glove knitter and Leslie an art silk warp knitter. Ethel died aged 83 on 26 January 1994; the probate record gave her address as 104 Welstead Avenue, Aspley Estate, Nottingham. Ernest George married Ellen Greenhalgh in 1935 (reg. Nottingham) but died two years later in November 1937 at the age of 25 (see 'Extra information'). The funeral service was held at St. Saviour's, probably the parish church in the Meadows, Nottingham, and he was interred at Wilford Hill.
1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry. Ernest enlisted in Bath and served with the 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. With his battalion he formed part of the British Expeditionary Force, landing in France on 21st August 1914. Ernest was reported missing in action on 2 November 1914, death confirmed in February the following year. A military record noted that he was killed in action 'on or since' 2 November 1914 and this was later accepted as the date of death. Ernest has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (Panel 3). Ernest qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (extract): The Ploegsteert Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, 12.5kms south of Ieper [Ypres]. 'commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton, in Belgium, to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes, in France, to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood. The original intention had been to erect the memorial in Lille. Most of those commemorated by the memorial did not die in major offensives, such as those which took place around Ypres to the north, or Loos to the south. Most were killed in the course of the day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line, or in small scale set engagements, usually carried out in support of the major attacks taking place elsewhere.' (www.cwgc.org)
Ernest's brother, Albert Daniel, was killed in action on 9 January 1915 while serving with the Sherwood Foresters; he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour.) Ernest's brother-in-law, William Cokayne (also Cockayne), served with the Sherwood Foresters (10702 Sergeant) and was killed in action on 14 October 1918. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 9 February 1915: ‘Pte E Gay, 1st Somerset Light Infantry, 1 Canaan Street, Nottingham. Missing since November 2nd. Brother of A Gay.’ 'Roll of Honour', Nottingham Evening Post, 31st January 1916: - “GAY. - Private Ernest Gay, 1st Somerset L.I., been reported missing since November 2nd, 1914, now official news dead, late 1, Canaan-street, Nottingham. Not dead to one who loved him, not lost, but gone before; he lives with me in memory still, and will for ever more. - From his loving wife Sarah and two children.” Above notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his face book pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 2 November 1916: ‘Gay. In loving memory of Pte. E Gay, Som. L.I. fell in action November 2nd, 1914. Ever in my thoughts. From his loving wife Sarah and two children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 2 November 1917: ‘Gay. In loving memory of Pte. E Gay beloved husband of Sarah Gay (nee Cockayne) (sic), fell in action November 2nd, 1915. Fondly remembered. Wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Sarah E. was his legatee and she received payments for herself and her children. His widow Sarah Gay tried to take her life on 11th May 1918. Nottingham Evening Post, 11th May 1918: “RESCUED FROM THE TRENT" “Observed struggling in the river Trent this morning, [11th May 1918] Sarah Gay, 28, of Lowe's-place, Leen-side, Nottingham, was rescued with some difficulty by a boatman. She was taken to the Guildhall and detained on a charge of attempted suicide. It appears that the woman lost her husband in the war and had recently been ill.” Nottingham Journal and Express, 13th May 1918: “RESCUED FROM RIVER. EXCITING SCENE NEAR COLWICK PARK" “A young widow, Sarah Gay (28), of Lowes-place, Leen-side, was rescued from the Trent near the Nottingham Trent-lane Pleasure Park on Saturday. Shortly before noon Mr. S. Sansom's attention was drawn to the woman, who was struggling in deep water. He obtained a boat and after some difficulty Gay was brought ashore. She was taken to the Nottingham General Hospital and afterwards to the Guildhall, where she was charged with attempting suicide. It is stated that the woman lost her husband in the war and had become ill in consequence of her trouble.” Above reports courtesy of Jim Grundy and his face book pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths;, 26 November 1937. ‘Gay. Ernest a beloved husband and son, passed away November 25th (sic) aged 25.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 29 November 1937: ‘Gay. Ernest George. Beloved husband of Nelly, died November 26th,(sic). Funeral service St Saviour’s, 2.45pm, Tuesday; interment, Wilford Hill, 3.15pm. Peace after pain' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 29 November 1937: ‘Gay. Ernest George, dear brother of Ethel and Les. Rest at last.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
