| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Ernest was born 1898 the son of George Henry Scarr, a Beverley-born shipbuilder, and Sarah Ann (nee Owen). He had two siblings Dora and Thomas. Ernest’s grandfather was Joseph Scarr of Henry & Joseph Scarr , (Engineers & Millwrights), Navigation Iron Works, Beckside, Beverley. His father, George Henry, was an engineer.
In 1912, at the age of 14, Ernest joined the Beverley Church Lads’ Brigade and in 1913 was awarded a prize as “Best all-round lad”. He was a Sergeant in the Brigade in Nov 1916 when he left to join the Army. CLB records show that he was of “Excellent” character, was employed as an engineer and that he was “A splendid N.C.O.”.
He served with the East Surrey Regiment, 8th Battalion and prisoner of war records show that Ernest, a Lance Corporal, was captured at Bois de Freres on 23 Mar 1918 from where he was taken to Friedrichsfeld. When he was repatriated, a report about Ernest in the Beverley Guardian dated 14 Dec 1918 stated:
“Food was both bad and limited in quantity and he was ‘half-starved’. He was set at liberty at Forbach on November 14th and had to walk forty miles before reaching the French lines. He spent four days in hospital at Charmes near Nancy, five days in hospital at Rouen and five days in King George’s Hospital, London. He reached home on Wednesday last week.”
CLB records show that in 1919, after demobilisation, Ernest again became very active in the Beverley CLB, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and, along with other duties, took charge of the Physical Training of the Company. In 1924 he was promoted to Captain and in 1929 briefly took over command of the Company when Neville Hobson had to relinquish overall command temporarily for health reasons. In 1933 Ernest married Emily Williams in Armley, Leeds, they had two daughters, Sheila and Margaret. In 1939 Ernest was living in Hessle, and was employed as a draughtsman (Aircraft).
Ernest died in Scarborough in 1987 aged 88, but he was survived by Emily who lived to the age of 96.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |