Ernest Barber
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was born at Redhill, Arnold in 1898, the son of William a collier and Emily Maria Barber née Davis , they lived on Mansfield Road, Redhill, Arnold, Nottingham. His father William was born in 1853 at Chesterfield Derbyshire and worked as a colliery banksman and Emily was born 1859 at Rugeley Staffordshire. They were married in 1882 in the Lichfield registration area and went on to have 9 children , however sadly one died in infancy , their children were: - William b1883 Rudgeley, Edward b1886 Rudgeley, James b1888 Redhill, Annie b1890 Redhill, John b1892 Redhill, Albert b1895 Redhill, Ernest b1897 Redhill, Percy b1902 Redhill. It would seem apparently looking at the birth of their children that the family moved from Rudgeley to Redhill after the birth of their second son Edward in 1886. In the 1911 census the family are living at Nixs House, Redhill and are shown as: - William 59 yrs a colliery banksman, he is living with his wife Emily (referred to as Emma in this census ) 52 yrs and their children, Edward 25 yrs colliery banksman, James 23 yrs a farm labourer, John 19 yrs a farm labourer, Albert 16 yrs a farm labourer , Ernest 14 yrs a farm labourer, Percy 9 yrs a scholar, also living with them is a nice Florry 2 years of age.
He originally attested on 6th July 1914 into the army reserves for six years service as a reservist. He gave his birth place as Redhill and gave his age as 17 yrs and 177 days and stated he was a coal miner. At this time he was given the service number 4920 and enlisted into the 4th (Reserve ) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. He was then enlisted into the 17th Battalion and went with the battalion to France on the 6/7th March 1916, and moved to the area of Givenchy, Gorre, Ferme du Roi, and Richebourge St Vaast. He was wounded during an action at Bertran Court on 3 September 1916 and was evacuated to England where he died. His funeral was held at the Baptist Church, Arnold, and he was buried in Arnold's Redhill Cemetery.
Nottingham Post notice, 18 October 1916:- “BARBER. – Died of wounds, October 14th, Private E. Barber. Funeral Thursday, [19th October 1916] Baptist Church, Redhill, 2.30, Cemetery 3 o'clock.” Above notice is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
