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This data is related to World War 1
Private

Ernest Scoffield

Service Number 1225
Military Unit 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
Date of birth Unknown
Date of Death 11 Jun 1915 (23 Years Old)
Place of Birth Lincoln Lincolnshire
Employment, Education or Hobbies In 1911 he was a packer (lace warehouse). He served in the Territorial Force (Sherwood Foresters) from 1910.
Family History

Ernest was the son of Cecil James and Elizabeth Scoffield (née Smart). His father Cecil James was born in Denton, Lincolnshire, in 1859 (J/A/S Grantham), the son of John and Elizabeth Scoffield. He was baptised at Denton parish church on 31 July 1859. His mother Elizabeth Smart was born in Lincolnshire on 13 December 1862. Cecil James and Elizabeth were married in 1883 (J/A/S Grantham Lincs) and had seven children: John Henry b. Denton 1884 (O/N/D Grantham) bap. Denton 21 September 1894. Cecil [Cecil James] b. Nottingham 1886 (J/A/S Nottingham), Walter b. Nottingham 19 September 1888 (O/N/D Nottingham), William Smart b. Lincoln 6 July 1890 (J/A/S Lincoln), Ernest b. Lincoln 1892 (A/M/J Lincoln). Leonard b. Nottingham 23 June 1898 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Ada Elizabeth b. Nottingham 19 February 1902 (A/M/J Nottingham).Their first son was born in Lincolnshire in 1884, the year after their marriage, the next two sons were born in Nottingham between 1886 and 1888, followed by the fourth son who was born in Lincoln in 1890.In 1891 Cyril James (31), an assurance agent, was living with his wife and four sons, John (6), Cecil (5), Walter (2) and William (under one year), on Gibbeson Street, Lincoln. Ernest was born in Lincoln the following year.However, their sixth son Leonard was born in Nottingham in 1898 and in 1901 the family was living at 55 Seymour Street; Cecil snr was a lace packer. He and Elizabeth now had six children: John (16) an office clerk, Cyril (13) a junior shipping clerk, Walter (12) who was at school but also an errand boy, William (10), Ernest (8) and Leonard (2). Their only daughter, Ada Elizabeth, was born the following year.Walter enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1905; the family home was then 50 Sneinton Boulevard, Nottingham. He was discharged less than a fortnight later having misrepresented his age.Ernest enlisted in the Territorial Force in August 1910 and gave his address as 38 Manor Street, Sneinton. The family was living at the same address when the census was taken the following year. Cecil snr. was a stationary engineman in a lace warehouse. Only four of their seven children were living at home: John a moulders' labourer, Ernest a packer in a lace warehouse, Leonard who was at school and also a butcher's errand boy, and Ada (9).Of their three eldest sons: Cecil, who has not been traced on the 1911 Census, was probably working in Buenos Aries, Argentina, having taken passage from Southampton on 20 April 1906 (steerage passenger, SS Thames); Walter was married and living in Brinsley and William was a railway porter living in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, as a boarder in the household of an elderly couple, Alfred and Bessie Edgington. When John Henry attested in 1914 his mother, whom he named as one of his next of kin, was living on Stratford Road, West Bridgford. However, by the following year his parents were living at 9 Byron Street, West Bridgford, and this was still their address when the CWGC record was compiled.John Henry, who was also killed in 1915, married Mabel Glen at Somercoates St Thomas, Derby, on 24 May 1915. Her address was given on John's service records as 9 Byron Street, West Bridgford, although she later moved to Mansfield Road, Alfreton. Elizabeth compiled a list for the army of her son Ernest's surviving blood relatives in 1919: she and her husband were living at 9 Byron Street with four of their surviving children, Cecil James (32), William Smart (28), Leonard (20) and Ada Elizabeth (17), while Walter (30) was living in Hucknall.According to a newspaper report in 1915, Cyril James snr. served in the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters during the war. He died in 1925 (O/N/D Basford). His widow Elizabeth was living with her married daughter, Ada Townsend, in West Bridgford in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Elizabeth died in 1952 (J/F/M Basford).Of Ernest's surviving siblings:Cecil probably worked in Argentina from 1906 until he returned to serve with the Royal Engineers during the war. He married Maud E Woollerton in 1916 (A/M/J Dudley Staffordshire). On 31 July 1919 he and Maud together with their son Thomas (b. 1918) sailed from Southampton to Buenas Aires (SS Meteor). His name appeared on the UK Electoral Rolls before and after the war but there are also records of further visits to Argentina between the wars, departure dates 27 September 1922 (occupation mechanical engineer), 12 May 1828 (traction engineer), 23 September 1932 (railway employee) and 4 September 1937 when Cecil (50, occupation 'railway') was accompanied by his wife Maud (50). Cecil died in Rosano, Argentina, between 1941-1945.Walter enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps (6351) on 1 February 1905; he was already serving with the 1st Notts Rifle Volunteers. However, he was discharged on 9 February 1905 for 'misstatement as to age'. He married Jessie Cripwell (b. 4 August 1887) in 1911 (J/F/M Basford) and at the time of the census the same year they were living in New Brinsley; he was a police constable. In 1939 he was a retired police inspector and living with his wife and daughter Joyce (b. 29 April 1917) in Mapperley, Nottingham. Walter and Jessie later moved to Mansfield Street, Sherwood, which was still their home when Walter died on 19 April 1948. His wife survived him.William married Minnie Ward (b. 30 June 1888) in 1919 (A/M/J Basford). In 1939 William, a police inspector, and Minnie together with their daughter Freda (b. 3 June 1918) were living in Renishaw, Chesterfield. They were living on Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, when Wiliam died on 14 November 1950; administration of his Will was awarded to his widow and married daughter, Freda Argyle. William was buried in Chesterfied Christ Church churchyard. His widow died on 3 November 1967.Leonard, who served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, was discharged to the Army Reserve in July 1919 and returned to live with his parents in West Bridgford. He married Gladys E Marshall (b. 18 February 1902) in 1921 (J/A/S Mansfield). In 1939 Leonard, a police constable, and his wife were living on Beardall Street, Hucknall, with their sons Kenneth A. (b. 10 September 1923) an aeronautical draughtsman and Ralph A. (b. 3 March 1929); the record of one occupant in the household remains closed. Leonard died in 1965 (J/A/S Nottingham). Ada married Frederick W Townsend (b. 13 November 1902) in 1929 (J/F/M Basford). In 1939 they were living at 26 Byron Road, West Bridgford, with their sons James (b. 13 June 1930) and Will (b. 26 June 1935) and Ada's widowed mother, Elizabeth Scoffield. Ada probably died in 1960 (A/M/J Nottingham.

Military History

'A' Coy 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.Ernest attested at Nottingham on 18th August 1910 in the Territorial Force on a four year service engagement and was posted to the Sherwood Foresters (N&D) Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. On the attestation form he gave his birth place as Lincoln, stated he was 18 years and 3 months of age, religion Congregational and occupation packer. He lived at 38 Manor Street, Nottingham, and his next of kin was his father Cecil James Scoffield of the same address. While serving in the Territorial Force he attended annual camps in 1911, 1912 and 1913. On 4th July 1913 he was promoted to lance corporal. On 5th August 1914 he was embodied for service. The medal index card shows he entered theatre (France) on 28th February 1915.Ernest was killed in action on 11th June 1915 and was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave reference A 62).He was entitled to the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and the British War Medal which were sent to his mother.

Extra Information

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Until the day breaks'His personal possessions were returned to his family in 1915; these comprised: writing pad, wallet, cigarette case, photo, pipe, jack knife, pouch, purse, disc, pocket book, letters.Ernest's brothers served in the following units:John Henry, B/3455 Sergeant 1st battalion Rifle Brigade. Killed in action in France on3 December 1915 and buried Sucrerie Military Cemetery. (See record on this ROH) Cyril, lieutenant Royal Engineers.William Smart, 2230 A/Sergeant Royal Army Medical Corps, served in Egypt from 7 May 1915, returned to UK February 1919.Leonard, 165982 Gunner 218th Signal Company Royal Garrison Artillery. Attested 6 June 1916, mobilized 5 May 1917, served with the BEF and was transferred to the Army Reserve in July 1919.Nottingham Evening Post, 8 March 1915: ‘Another Nottm. Record. Father and Five Sons All Serving. A record of service for king and country is possessed by a West Bridgford family, of which the father and five sons are doing good work for their country. The father Corporal CL (sic) Scoffield, is in the 8th Notts, and Derby Regiment, and the five sons are serving as follows: Sergeant JH Scoffield, 7th (Service) Rifle Brigade; Acting-Cpl CJ Scoffield, 7th (Service) Rifle Brigade; Private WS Scoffield, 3rd Mounted Field Ambulance RAMC; Private E Scoffield, 7th Notts and Derby (Robin Hood Rifles ), now in France; Private L Scoffield, 7th Notts & Derby Reserve, the second son, acting Corporal CJ Scoffield, returned home from the Argentine in order to offer his services.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)A similar report to the above appeared in the West Bridgford Advertiser on 12 June 1915 (below), the day after Ernest's death in action. West Bridgford Advertiser, 12 June 1915: ‘A Bridgford Record. No fewer than six members of one Bridgford family, a father and five sons, are serving the King, vis. CJ Scoffield [father] of 9, Byron-road; JH Scofield, CJ Scoffield; WS Scoffield, K (?E) Scoffield and L Scoffield [sons]. The second son has come from the Argentine to volunteer.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 27 January 1916: ‘A ‘Blighty’ Smoke. Messages of appreciation still come to hand … Corporal WS Scoffield, Field Ambulance N. and D. Mounted Brigade, writes to the same firm [John Player & Sons] ‘Many thanks for cigarettes to hand this mail. They were very acceptable, as are all English-made cigarettes out here.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 10 June 1916: ‘Scoffield. In loving remembrances of our dear son, Ernest, killed in action, June 10th (sic), 1915 (Robin Hoods). Mother, father, sister, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 10 June 1916: ‘Scoffield. In loving memory of Ernest Scoffield, killed in action, June 10th (sic), 1915 Greater love hath no man than this. Always remembered by A and E Stedham.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Photographs