Personal Details
Born: 6 March 1893 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and baptised on 29 March at St Alkmund’s Parish Church.
Family: Son of James and Sarah Roberts and grandson of John and Martha Prodger. In 1926 he married Lucy Purcell in Whitchurch and together they had four children, Bernard, Nancy M, John and John W. Our research suggests that John was born and died in 1933.
Residence: Ernest and his parents were living at the ‘Rising Sun’ in Whitchurch at the time of his baptism in 1893 where his father was the innkeeper. In both the 1901 census and 1911 census Ernest was found to be living with his grandparents at Blakemere Cottage, Whitchurch. However in the earlier census he had the name Prodger and was described as their son, presumably a mistake. At the time of the 1939 register Ernest, Lucy and the children were residing at 7 George Street in Whitchurch. This was still his address in 1971, the year of his death.
Employment: At the time of the 1911 Census Ernest was working as an agricultural labourer. This was still his occupation in 1939.
Died: In the Royal Salop Infirmary, Shrewsbury during the second quarter of 1971, aged 78. Ernest was buried in Whitchurch cemetery on 12 June that year, in the same plot as his wife Lucy who had passed away 14 months previously.
Military Details
Date of Enlistment: Circa December 1915
Other Information: Included in Whitchurch Herald ‘Roll of Honour’ – first mentioned on 18 Dec 1915. This would indicate that he joined up just prior to this date.
Further military details not known.
This is my great grandfather and I had little to no information about him until I read this post- thank you.
Many thanks for your feedback; we’re really pleased we’ve been able to help. If you would like any more information (eg we have copies of all the parish and state records) please let us know. Both your great grandparents are buried in Whitchurch cemetery; I have tried to find the grave to photo the headstone for you but so far the cemetery records have defeated me – I’ll have another try
Terry (Volunteer, Whitchurch Museum & Archives)
I have located you great grandparents’ grave in Whitchurch cemetery, but unfortunately there is no headstone