Personal Details
Born: 23 August 1881 in Ellesmere, Shropshire.
Family: Third of seven children born to Samuel and Mary Ann Rolfe. On 6 September 1904 Ernest married Ellen Roberts, of Bettisfield, in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Together they had at least 3 children; Hugh, Norman and Harold. It’s possible that there were two others, but the mother’s surname was not listed so they can’t be positively identified.
Residence: In 1891 and 1901 the family were living at Tart’s Hill, Halghton, Ellesmere, Flintshire. By 1911 Ernest, Ellen and their son were residing at Fir Cottage, Penley, Ellesmere, Shropshire. In 1919 he was living at 2 Picadilly in Whitchurch. Twenty years later the 1939 register listed the family address as 78 Dodington, Whitchurch and Ernest was still living there at the time of his death in 1945.
Employment: Occupation was given as carpenter in both the 1901 and 1911 census returns. By 1939 Ernest was working as a commercial traveller in wines and spirits.
Died: Aged 64 in 1945 and was buried in Whitchurch cemetery on 27 November the same year.
Military Details
Regiment: 534 Agricultural Company, Labour Corps
Rank: Not Known
Service Number: 508975
Date of Enlistment: December 1915 as part of Lord Derby’s scheme
Date of Discharge: After spring 1919
Reason for Discharge: Not known
Other Information: Liverpool Echo 5th March 1918 refers to “ploughing by 534 Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, Mossley Hill, Liverpool”
Presumed none, Home Service in Northern Command area.