BermondseyBoy

Ernest Parker, Hawkestone Road in Rotherhithe, WWI. 1893-1919.
Ernest Parker was born in 1893 to Thomas and Sarah Parker (he was one of 8 children!). It is likely that he left school aged 11 in 1904 after the death of his father and worked as a clerk for a produce packer. Private Ernest Parker joined the British forces during the First World War, and embarked for Salonika in November 1916. He sent numerous letters back to his family on Hawkestone Road in Rotherhithe. His notes were always signed affectionately using his nickname “Ernie.” Unfortunately, just as the hostilities had ceased and his return home was within reach, he was admitted to the military hospital with pneumonia and did not recover from the ailment, dying there on the 4th of February 1919. Ernest “Ernie” Parker received British War and Victory Medals and he was buried at the British Military Cemetery at Mikra, Thessaloniki, Greece “with full military honours”.

At Christmas, Ernie sent his greetings back to his family, including this card that was addressed to his sister Ada, and an embroidered card for his Mum, Sarah Louise Parker.

Two brave Soldiers from our area. We will remember them.

WILLIAM JOSEPH JONES, GRENADIER GUARDS,
Age 22, Died on 15 September 1916.
Son of Mrs. M. E. Jones, of 12, Clack St., Rotherhithe, London.

There is a picture of 9 Riddell Street in the Southampton Way Topic, not sure if it is the same house?

9-7 Riddell Street, c1955.

Cecil Leslie Morgan was born 22 April 1899 in Bermondsey. He left school in 1912 and was indentured as an apprentice Cooper on 5th May 1913. 12 April 1917 - Cecil joined up at Rotherhithe Town Hall to fight in WW1 and was declared medically A1. As Private Morgan 42609, he was posted to the 47th Training Reserve Battalion and ordered to report to Horse Guards Parade Whitehall on 26 May 1917. He qualified as a Lewis Gunner and as a Stretcher Bearer. Initially assigned to the 3rd Norfolk regiment, Cecil was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Essex Regt in January 1918. He and 14 of his comrades were captured at La Bassee Canal on the night of April 18, 1918 (just four days before his 19th birthday), by German Machine Gun Corps at 9.30 pm. He survived captivity and returned home, ill with dysentery in December 1918.

WW1, the balloon apron across the eastern approaches to London was introduced to help against the night raids. Spans of cable, each about 1,000 yards wide, were held aloft by three balloons; each carried cables that hung down for about 1,000 feet, spaced at 25-yard intervals. Hoisted up to a height of about 10,000 feet, the aprons offered an obstacle to raiders, and forced them to fly at a more predictable height.

My Granddad George Horton went with hundreds of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe men to Deptford Town Hall in October 1915 and enlisted in the 137th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. They went to France in April 1916. I have read all the war diaries showing where they fought throughout the Great War and they were in the thick of things including Arras and Vimy Ridge. They finally returned home to Dover on June 24th 1919 and were ordered to proceed immediately to Deptford Town Hall where the Mayor would be meeting them. When they arrived there was no meeting party at all. The local MP raised a question about this in Parliament in July ( reported in Hansard) asking why there was no reception committee. The Secretary of State, Mr Winston Churchill replied to the effect that a telegram was sent to the Mayor but did not include an ETA. A second telegram was sent later on the 24th with an ETA but it arrived too late to be delivered to the mayor (who presumably kept office hours).
How is that for gratitude for a locally raised unit which was actually raised by the Mayor himself.

LEST WE FORGET

Vossy53

Originally Posted by paperboy.