Driver Ernest Wilbraham
83527 Royal Field Artillery
Ernest Wilbraham was born in 1892 at Jacksdale, Notts son of Matthew Henry Wilbraham, a butcher, born Riddings, Derbyshire and Sarah Ann Lowe, born Ironville, Derbyshire. Ernest had siblings Horace Leslie, Gladys, Henrietta, Doris and Matthew. Ernest’s brothers Horace and Matthew also served and survived WW1. In 1911 the family was living at ‘Dale House’, Jacksdale, situated on the corner of Jacksdale Street and Main Road which was originally the Wilbraham’s butcher’s shop but later became the Jacksdale Social Club. In 1911 Ernest was employed at the clay pipe works.
Ernest’s service records do not seem to have survived. He was a recipient of the 1914-15 Star, entering the French Theatre of War on 24th August 1915, and the Victory and British War Medals.
In March 1914 Matthew’s father had been one of a number of local tradesmen who formed the Social Club as the following newspaper article reports:- ‘Jacksdale Social Club. A company has just been registered called the Jacksdale and District Institute, Ltd., to acquire or rent a building in or near Jacksdale, for a social club. Registered March 18th, with capital £500 in £1 shares. Directors (and subscribers), F. Eccles, director of Eccles Ltd., grocers; E. Holmes, Jacksdale, bootmaker; M. H. Wilbraham, Jacksdale, gentleman; W. Parson, Ironville, Derbyshire, engineer; G. Clarke, Jacksdale, hairdresser; J. Pitt, Jacksdale, nurseryman; J. W. Peach, Jacksdale, general dealer. Qualification £5. 1914 March 27th.’
Photo: Jacksdale Social Club Committee - Silver Jubilee 1939. Ernest Wilbraham is seated in the front row, third from the right.