ERNEST SYER

image from 1917 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper

Born: 24th May 1876, Ipswich.

Died: 23rd April 1917; age 41; Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action.

Residence: Cardigan Street, Ipswich.

Employed: a Corn Merchant –  Messrs. R. & W. Paul Ltd., Ipswich. Ernest was a most valued servant and very popular with the farmers and merchants at the various corn merchants in the district.

Ernest was of a fervent patriotic temperament, he was one of the first to join the Ipswich Volunteer Training Corps.

Attested under the Derby scheme, and was given conditional exemption being very near the military age-limit. However, he again volunteered for active service, and was placed with the Naval Division with whom he had served at the front for several months.

Service: Army Reserve 8th May 1916 – Entered 22nd August 1916. Draft for B.E.F. (Range Taker) 16th December 1916. Joined Drake Battalion 3rd March 1917 – 23rd April 1917.

1917

The Operations on the Ancre (January-March 1917)
The Second Battle of the Scarpe (23rd-24th April 1917), a phase of the Arras Offensive, in which the Division captured Gavrelle.

Rank: Able Seaman; Service Number: R/81

Regiment: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, ‘Drake’ Battalion. R.N. Division.

Grave Reference:

Bay 1,

Arras Memorial,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the late Isaac Henry Syer; husband of Elizabeth Jane Syer, of 32, Cardigan Street, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1881   7, Neale Street, Ipswich.

Ernest was 4 years old and living with his parents.

Isaac Henry Syer, 36, a Coal Agent, born Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Emily Catherine Syer (nee Leggett), 30, born Stonham Aspal, Suffolk.

1 domestic servant.

1891   119, Norwich Road, Ipswich.

Ernest was 14 years old and living with his parents.

Isaac, 46, a Commercial Traveller – Coal.

Emily, 39.

1 general domestic servant.

1901   32, Cardigan Street, Ipswich.

Ernest was 25 years old, a Traveller – Coal. He was married and Head of the Household.

Elizabeth, 30.

1 general domestic servant.

1911   32, Cardigan Street, Ipswich.

Ernest was 35 years old, a Corn Merchants Traveller. He was Head of the Household.

Lizzie, 35.

Lizzie’s widowed mother Elvina Doubleday, 75, living on Independent Means, born Ipswich.

In 1897, Ipswich, Ernest married Elizabeth Jane Doubleday, born 1865, Diss, Norfolk.

Ernest is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Nicholas Church, Ipswich, St.Matthew’s Church Memorial.

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, ‘Drake’ Battalion. R.N. Division