Ernest Bryan

Ernest was the son of Sarah Ann White (nee Bryan) and John Henry Southerington. Sarah Ann Bryan was born in 1858 (A/M/J Newark) and married Robert White in 1881 (J/F/M Newark). They had one child, Robert Edward White b. 1881 (O/N/D Newark). John Henry Southerington was born in Coddington, Newark, in 1859 (A/M/J Newark). In 1881 he was working as a platelayer and living on Balderton Road, Coddington, with his parents Gibbon and Hannah. By 1891 John Henry, single, was working as a malster's labourer and recorded living on Main Road, Coddington; he was head of the household. Also in the home were Sarah White, married, and employed as a servant, amplified on the census as 'malster's housekeeper', Robert E White (9) described as 'servant's son', and Ernest White (4) and John H White (3) each of whose relationship to John Southergate was described as 'natural son'. Ernest was born in 1886 (O/N/D Newark) and John Henry in 1888 (J/F/M Newark) and both births were registered in the surname Southerington. Two more children were born to Sarah and John: George Edgar in 1891 (J/A/S Newark) and Fred in 1893 (J/F/M Newark). George's birth was registered in the surname Southerington but Fred's in the surname Bryan, Sarah's maiden name. By 1901 John (41) a malster, and Sarah (42) were living on Side Row, Newark. Sarah's son, Robert, appears to have left home, but Ernest (14), John (13), George (9) and Fred (7) were in the house on the night of the census. All the family used the surname Southerington. The family was living at 94 Beacon Hill ['Bottom Row'], Newark by 1911: John (51), a general labourer, Sarah (52) and Ernest (24), John (23), George (19) and Fred (17) whose occupations were also general labourer. John snr. completed the census as head of household and described all four boys as his sons, surnames Southerington and declared that he and Sarah had been married for 25 years ie. about 1886, the year of Ernest's birth; no record has been found of their marriage. Also in the household on the night of the census was John's niece, Liley (sic) Wright (10, b. Newark). Ernest's brother, Fred, attested in 1914 using the surname Bryan. According to his service record he was still living at 94 Beacon Hill, Newark, and named his father, John Henry Southerington, of the same address as his next of kin. Ernest also enlisted in the surname Bryan and both boys' official records give their mother's name as Sarah Ann Bryan. Fred died in action in 1915 (see 'extra information' and separate record on this ROH). John Henry Southerington died in 1923 (O/N/D Newark) and Sarah Ann in 1927 (J/F/M Newark); her death was registered in the surname Bryan. Ernest married Daisy Hall in 1911 (J/A/S Newark, Bryan/Hall). Daisy Hall was born on 21 May 1888 (A/M/J Newark/Shaw) and was the daughter of James and Fanny Hall. In 1911 Doris (22), a tailoress, was living with her parents and brother James (36), a plaster chopper, at 107 Sleaford Road, Newark. Ernest and Daisy had three children who were all born in Newark: John Henry b. 13 February 1912 (J/F/M Newark), James b. 6 February 1913 (J/F/M Newark) and Edna b. 1914 (O/N/D Newark) who died in 1915 (J/F/M Newark) before her first birthday. At the time of Ernest's death in 1917 the family was living at 45 Bottom Row, Beacon Hill, Newark. Daisy probably never remarried. In 1939, when the England & Wales Register was compiled, the widowed Daisy was still living at 45 Bottom Row. Also in the household were her two unmarried sons, John Henry, a brickworks setter, James, a bricklayers' labourer, and her unmarried brother, James Hall (b. 16 June 1874) a plaster works labourer. Daisy may have died in 1965 (J/F/M Newark). John Henry died in 1987 (A/M/J Newark) and James in 1977 (A/M/J Newark).

In 1911 he was a general labourer. According to a report in the local paper following his death in 1917 he was employed by Messrs. Gilstrap, Earp & Co.

He was probably living at 45 Bottom Row, Newark, when he enlisted.

Private Ernest Bryan enlisted on 29th May 1916 at Newark. He served with the 2/6th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was invalided home in February 1917 with trench foot but was back in France by early July. Ernest died on 2nd November 1917 at No 7 General Hospital from a compound fracture of the skull, resulting from shell fire. He was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France (grave ref. IV.E.77). CWGC: History of Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery (extract): 'St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916 ... The town was a considerable hospital centre with the 4th, 10th, 7th Canadian, 9th Canadian and New Zealand Stationary Hospitals, the 7th, 58th (Scottish) and 59th (Northern) General Hospitals, and the 17th, 18th and 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations all stationed there at some time during the war. St. Omer suffered air raids in November 1917 and May 1918, with serious loss of life.' (www.cwgc.org)

His brother, Private Fred Bryan, enlisted on 2nd September 1914 at Newark. He gave his age as 21 yrs and 10 months, he was a labourer and lived at 94 Beacon Hill Road, Newark. He served with the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters and landed in France on 2nd March 1915. He was last seen alive, but wounded, on 13th/14th October 1915 during an attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. A court of enquiry was held on 5th January 1916 into his disappearance during which a witness stated he had seen him wounded during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. No conclusion was made following the court of enquiry. However, on 15th October 1916 his death was accepted as being on 15th October 1915. Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Article published 14th November 1917 in the Newark Advertiser :- 'Resided with wife, Daisy and their two young sons at 45 Bottom Row, Beacon Hill, Newark. Employed at Messrs. Gilstrap, Earp & Co. A well known pigeon fancier, he and his partner, Pte. J. Turner, won many prizes together. Enlisting on 29th May 1916, he was invalided home in Feb. 1917 with trench foot. Out again in early July and went through big push (Battle of the Somme). At the end of October he was a victim of shell-fire, suffering a compound fracture of the skull. Died in No.7 General Hospital, France, at 3.30 pm on November 2nd.' In 1919 GB Burke, a Newark solicitor and commissioner of oaths, completed on behalf of Sarah Ann Bryan a form from the army which asked for the names of Fred's surviving blood relatives. His mother was named as his only surviving blood relative; she signed the form with her mark. 1922 England & Wales Electoral Register: Beacon Hill, Newark: 45 Bottom Row: Bryan Daisy, James Hall (Note: Daisy’s two sons not of voting age) 46 Bottom Row: Bryan Fanny 94 Bottom Row: Southerington John Henry, Southerington Sarah Ann 96 Bottom Row: Bryan George Edgar, Bryan Maud 102 Bottom Row: Bryan George Edgar-J, Bryan Mary Ann 112 Bottom Row: Bryan Herbert