#Kent #KIA #Military #WWII
Ernest Frank SPAIN was the only child born to Ernest Thomas SPAIN (1884 – 1954), a Baker, and Minnie May SAWYER (1888 – 1962).
His father was born in the Dover area but the family had moved around west Kent prior to this it appears. His mother’s family were from around the area for a few generations. They married Q3 1913 in Dover District when he was almost 30 and she mid-20s.
In the 1911 Census we establish not only where Ernest’s parents were living but how they met. Minnie is living with her widowed mother and two other siblings in the five-room property at 186 Clarendon Place, Dover, Kent. This is one of the rows of terraced properties off Folkestone Road on the opposite side to Dover Priory Station.
Minnie is 22, Single and was born in Hougham. What we find is that they have a boarder Ernest who is shown as 25, Single and works as a Baker. He was born in St Marys which I believe would be around Romney Marsh. I am not sure how long they would have been sharing the same house. Minnie’s father passed away in 1905 when the youngest child was only about 11 so presumably after this date boarders were taken in to help keep the family going.
So, two years later they have married and then Ernest came along at the end of 1915 with other records indicating it to be 30 December. His birth was registered Q1 1916 in Dover District. If he was baptised, I have not found a record.
Not sure what his early life was like apart from not great I’d imagine. 33 bombs had fallen on Dover by the time he was three months old in two raids 1 with the first lot being not far away in the St James’ area of town. I don’t believe his father joined up to fight but not definite.
At some time between 1916 and 1939 the family have moved to Ramsgate, Kent. [Had quick look to see if any evidence on British Newspaper Archives for this period but nothing that seems related to this family. There are almost 1500 entries for Ernest and Spain between 1915 and 1945 for South East England.]
On 29 September 1939 Ernest and his parents are living at 29 Bloomsbury Road. His father is a Bread Baker Charge Hand, mother on Unpaid Domestic Duties and unfortunately cannot read his role. At this date he is described as single.
Presumably soon after this he has met Winifred Jane SMELT (1920 – 1992) who he married Q4 1941 in Bromley District, Kent. Had he joined up by this point and in that area for training? They have a son Paul Ernest SPAIN (1944 – 1969) born 10 August 1944 and registered Q3 1944 under Tonbridge District.
Regarding Ernest’s military career we have evidence that in World War II he was in the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. His Service number was 5385877 2.
He was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and 1939-1945 Star which meant he had served at least 28 days and most probably over 180 to obtain the latter. He was a Private and part of the Infantry in the Western European Campaign 1944/45.
He was sadly killed 13 April 1945 and is buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 3 in Gelderland, Netherlands. The memorial reference is 7.B.3. The Inscription is given as In Memory. For ever in our thoughts. Your loving Wife and Son, Mum and Dad. His family must have been notified fairly promptly since there is a notice in his parent’s local paper 4 just a fortnight later.
Ernest’s father passed away 18 March 1954 and believe he was still at 29 Bloomsbury Road at the time. His mother lived a few more years and died in 1962. His wife Winifred remarried and had three more children between 1949 and 1957 who are also related to me because her second spouse was a maternal first cousin of Ernest!
Ernest and Winifred’s son Paul married and had two children but sadly he died aged just 24 on 19 July 1969 in Louth, Lincolnshire. I do not know any of the details though. His address in the National Probate Calendar was given as 19 Collard Road, Willesborough so this would have been near Ashford in Kent.
It is very sad as Winifred had to bury two more of her children as well. The youngest died in 1973, aged 16, and another at 33 in 1987. She then died herself in 1992 and her second husband lived until 1997.
Ernest Frank SPAIN was a 2C 2R on his maternal line. Nearest shared ancestors are my 3x Great Grandparents Benjamin HOLMANS (1822 – 1908) and Margaret Mary BANKS (1831 – 1889).
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
- Dover War Memorial Project – http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/Casualties/Civilians/WW1/Injuries%20in%20Dover.htm ↩︎
- Forces War Records = https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/2772572/private-ernest-frank-spain-british-army-lincolnshire-regiment/ ↩︎
- Online Cemeteries – https://www.online-begraafplaatsen.nl/zerken.asp?g=122051 ↩︎
- British Newspaper Archives, Thanet Advertiser, Friday 27 April 1945 – https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001699/19450427/124/0006 ↩︎