Born in Alton during the First World War, Ernest served with the Royal Engineers during the Second World War at Dunkirk, Egypt, Italy and during D-Day, and was believed to be the last surviving Royal Engineer who served at Dunkirk.
Last November, ITV Meridian News filmed Ernest in his room at Wenham Holt Nursing Home in Liss, which was televised on the Friday before Remembrance Sunday.
A Guard of Honour of Royal Engineers, from Gibraltar Barracks and men from Solent and District Royal Engineers Association, attended, including two standard bearers and a bugler from Sandhurst who played the Last Post.
It was while he was serving in Egypt that a friend was killed by a mine, which led to Ernest becoming a self-taught mine expert.
He was subsequently mentioned in dispatches while in Italy and again in France, and was later presented with the Military Medal at Bree in Belgium by Field Marshall Montgomery.
Ernest’s citation reads: “His task during advance of Les Mazures was to clear mines as far forward as possible to ensure the close support of tanks.
“After he had cleared 16 mines under fire he was held up by enemy action, he ordered his section under cover and crawled along the ditch reconnoitring for further mines until he reached the enemy outpost, reporting the road clear in advance of our leading troops.”
His father had previously served with the Royal Engineers during the 1914 to 1918 war, after which the family moved to Petersfield in 1924.
From this time, Ernest remembered lamp lighters and earning a shilling for carrying market trader’s bags from the railway station.
In February 1945, he married Audrey at Stone Parish Church, Buckinghamshire, and they bought a pair of cottages along the Boundstone Road in Rowledge, where Ernest fulfilled a dream of owning a shop.
First he had to build it and he then opened the Handy Stores.
‘Ernie’, as he was affectionately known, also learnt to play bowls at Rowledge and continued to play at Brightwells after they moved to Aldershot.
Later, with his sight deteriorating, Audrey and Ernie moved to Stratford Court in Farnham. Here they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary before Audrey passed away in 2013.
His was a long and adventure-filled life, including service to his country which was honoured by his regiment. His medals, including the Legion d’Honour, are held in Aldershot Military Museum and he will be further honoured by a display at the Royal Engineers museum.
His funeral attracted a room full of well-wishers from various areas of his life including the Brightwell Bowling community, friends from Rowledge, and later life working days at the NatWest bank, as well as friends from Stratford Court sheltered housing.
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