Private Ernest Parkin
Regiment Unknown
Ernest Parkin was born in 1878 in Riddings, son of John Parkin a coal miner hewer at Pye Hill Colliery and Ruth (nee Slater). In 1891 the family was living at Fletcher’s Row, part of the Ecclesiastical District of Riddings but just a few minutes walk into Pye Hill and Jacksdale. In 1901 they had moved to nearby Pye Hill.
Ernest was was one of 14 children, of whom 11 had survived by 1911. Ernest was the eldest and the other surviving siblings were Annie, James, Edith, Elizabeth, Ellen, Leslie, George, Fred, Elsie and Georgina.
In 1906 Ernest married Annice Taylor and they set up home at Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. Ernest was a coal miner/hewer below ground. In 1911 the couple had been married for 4 years but no children had been born by that time.
Ernest’s military record has not been found but a local resident remembers that he also worked at the James Oakes Pipeyard and that he lost a leg in the war.
Ernest’s brother George Parkin also served in WW1 and their sister Elsie Parkin married Joseph Wilfred Hill another local WW1 serviceman named on the Jacksdale war memorial.