William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Ernest was born in 1888 at Seaham to parents George Bewick and Dorothy Hannah (nee Dawson,) The couple married in 1881.
The 1891 census shows the family living at 37 Mile St Guisbrough. George was working as a blacksmith. The children at that time were Mary, Edward, George (b 1886 d 1887) and Ernest.
By 1901 husband George had died in 1894 leaving his widow, Dorothy as head of the household. Since the last census the family had increased by a daughter, Elizabeth. Dorothy was working as a dressmaker at home whilst her eldest son, Edward, was an engineman in at the coal mine.
Dorothy married William Robert Riches late in 1907, which was only a few months before Ernest joined the army and also the same year daughter, Mary married Bartholomew May.
Ernest enlisted into the army on September 17th 1907.
By 1911 the census shows him to be living at the barracks with 1st Amme. Col., 18th Battery, RFA “Higher” Establishment, Nowshera, North West Frontier Province, India.
Ernest was posted to France January 17th 1915.
Prior to his discharge Ernest had previously been sick with malaria probably a result of his service in India). He was admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) on March 29th 1915 then transferred to sick Convoy via No.1 Ambulance Train
He was again admitted to hospital No.3 on August 6th 1917, later to be transferred to 8 Field Ambulance on August 12th 1917 CCS. His condition is listed as V.D.H. which is valvular disease of the heart indicating some serious organic disease or heart malfunction.
Ernest was discharged on September 28th 1917 due to sickness at age of 28. Silver War Badge No 129837 was issued October 2nd 1917 as he was considered no longer physically fit for war service.
He died at home on March 8th 1920.
For his service Ernest was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest Bewick has yet to be identified on a local War Memorial.
