| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Ernest Stephenson was born in Beverley the 14 Apr 1899, the son of Fred and Annie Stephenson (nee Southwick Taylor). Fred was a bricklayer/builder and Ernest became a joiner and builder. His older brothers, Fred and Percy also followed in the family building business. The family home by 1914 was 37 Eastgate, they also lived in Jubilee Terrace, Minstermoorgate and at 1 Keldgate/Long Lane whilst Ernest was growing up.
Ernest joined the Royal Navy shortly after his eighteenth birthday, signing on at Portsmouth on 26 Jun 1917. He served as an Able Bodied Seaman, from late Jul 1918 until his demobilisation in Feb 1919, on HMS Octavia, an M-class destroyer launched in 1916. Ernest was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
On his return to Beverley Ernest married Eva Agnes Mary Welburn of 24 St Andrew Street, at Beverley Minster on 24 Jul 1920. They lived at 116 Keldgate and had four children, Dorothy born 1921, Walter born 1923, Peter born 1928 and John born 1929 by which time they were living in Hull.
In 1939 in Hull, Ernest now a builder’s manager married again, Jenny Wilfred Hartley was born in 1909 in Hull and was a draper’s assistant, they lived in Holme Croft, Woodmansey and later in St Mary’s Walk, Beverley. Ernest died on 11 Oct 1955 and was buried at Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley three days later.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |