Ernest Farnsworth
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was born in 1891 the son of William (died 1904 aged 45) a house painter and Florence Farnsworth of 16 Ashover Terrace Manning Street Nottingham. His father was born in 1858 at Birmingham his mother in 1853 at Sheffield. They had twelve children but five died in infancy. Ernest’s surviving siblings were Nellie b.1880 Sheffield, Eliza b.1882 Sheffield, Alice b.1884 Nottingham, William b.1886 Nottingham, Ada b.1893 Nottingham and Rose b.1895 Nottingham. In 1911 the family lived at 19 Edginton Street Thorneywood Nottingham.
He enlisted on 5th October 1914 at Nottingham. He went to Dublin during the Irish Rebellion on 26th April 1916. He took part in the attack on 25 Northumberland Road and Mount Street Bridge in Dublin receiving wounds from which he died later the same day, one of thirty one Sherwood Foresters killed during the Irish Rebellion. His body was returned to his family and he is buried in the Nottingham General Cemetery.
His brother Private William Farnsworth also died during World War 1, in Flanders in 1917, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Article published 25th May 1916 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- ANOTHER DUBLIN VICTIM BURIED IN NOTTM. “A large crowd gathered at the Nottingham General Cemetery yesterday [24th May 1916] to witness the burial of Private Ernest Farnsworth, of 16, Ashover-terrace, Manning-street, who died from wounds sustained in Dublin. Twenty-five years of age, he enlisted in the Robin Hoods shortly after the outbreak of war.” Obituary notice published 23rd June 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post:- “FARNSWORTH. – Killed in action, April 26th, 1916, Private Ernest Farnsworth, Sherwood Foresters, aged 25. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear. – From his broken-hearted mother, sisters, niece, and brother William (in Ireland). In Memoriam notice published 26th April 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FARNSWORTH. – In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Ernest Farnsworth, Sherwood Foresters, 16, Ashover-terrace, Manning-street, killed in action, April 26th, 1916, aged 25. An ever-present sorrow. – Sorrowing sisters Eliza, Alice, Harry, nieces, and nephews.” Newspaper items courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 For an excellent account of the Mount Street Bridge operation see Blood on the Streets: 1916 and the battle for Mount Street Bridge by Paul O'Brien. See also Keith Farrell's 2013 film A Terrible Beauty. David Nunn
