ERNEST SYER
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1917
Born: 24th May 1876, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 7th July 1876, at St. Mary le Tower Church, Ipswich, with his twin brother, Herbert Syer – family home at 7, Neale Street, Ipswich.
Died: 23rd April 1917; age 41; Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action.
Residence: 32, 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 a 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.
Memorial Reference:
Bay 1,
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.
Ernest’s twin brother, Herbert Syer, died on the 12th July 1879, at Beccles, Suffolk, aged 3 years.
Ernest’s mother, Emily Catherine Syer, died on the 31st March 1894, at her home, 119, Norwich Road, Ipswich and was buried at Section D, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Ernest’s father, Isaac Henry Syer, died suddenly on the 16th April 1900, at his home, 24, Berners Street, Ipswich and was buried on the 20th April at Ipswich Old Cemetery. At the time of his father’s death, Ernest was residing at Bedford Street, Ipswich.
On the 9th January 1897, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, 21 year old Ernest, a traveller, of St. Matthew’s, Ipswich, married 25 year old Elizabeth Jane Doubleday, born 1865, Diss, Norfolk – daughter of Frederick William Doubleday, a wine and spirit merchant’s agent, and Elvina Doubleday (nee Jennings), of 30, Berners Street, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Probate to Elizabeth Jane Syer – widow.
Ernest is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Nicholas’s Church, Ipswich, and St.Matthew’s Church, Ipswich.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, ‘Drake’ Battalion. R.N. Division
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