Ernest Scoffield

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 1959. 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.