A Measured Approach
Sergeant Ernest Sumsion Somerset Light Infantry and Special Constabulary
The Man Ernest Sumsion was born on Sunday 9th February 1890 in Tiverton, in the Rural Sanitary District of Bath in Somerset. Son of Arthur John a Stone Mason and Sarah Ann nee Knight; he was one of six children, William Arthur born in 1879, Sidney 1881, Henry 1882 (died in 1890 aged 8), Clarence 1886 and Rosina 1892.
The family lived at 12 Ayre Street, Tiverton and by 1901 had moved to 31 Victoria Terrace and Ernest aged 10 was presumably still at School. Having finished his education, he became a Clothiers Assistant and in 1911 now aged 20 was living in rooms and working at 1 The Promenade, Great Malvern. It is possible he worked at Brays on Worcester Road, also known as the Promenade. Brays were a large clothing company founded in 1895 and only ceased trading in 2019.
In 1912 Ernest appears to have emigrated to Canada aboard the Royal Mail Ship Royal Edward, part of the Royal Line, departing Bristol on 18th September and bound for Quebec. RMS, later HMT Royal Edward was a passenger ship belonging to the Canadian Northern Steamship Company that was later sunk during the First World War with a large loss of life while transporting troops. His occupation on the passenger manifest was now described as a Glove Cutter.
It is possible Ernest married whilst in Canada, but returned to the United Kingdom following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 aged 24, probably ready to volunteer. In any event he married Eveline Thirza Summers during the last quarter of 1915 in Bath.
Ernest enlisted into the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, which had been formed in 1914 and went to France in July 1915 as part of the 20th (Light) Division. His service number was 201909 and he was promoted to Sergeant. Ernest’s date of entry into France is not known but he did see service on the Western Front and disembodied on 26th September 1919, returning to the clothing trade.
For his war service he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest and Eveline had three children Margaret Eva born in 1920, Brian Ernest 1922 and Jean Sylvia 1931, who sadly died aged 3 in 1934.
Ernest joined the Special Constabulary in about 1936 and in 1939 was living at 20 Rowden Road, Chippenham and shown in the census as Manager of a Gents Outfitting company, as well as being a Special Constable.
He served throughout the War in the Special Constabulary and possibly the Air Raid Precautions qualified for the award of the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1941 and the first clasp in 1945. He was also awarded the Defence Medal and silver ARP lapel badge. He served in the SC until at least 1965 as he received further clasps dated 1955 and 1965 representing a total service of about 30 years.
Ernest died on 12th March 1971 aged 81 still living at 20 Rowden Road and was described as a retired Company Director, leaving £17,266.00. He appears to have been involved with the Aged Pilgrims Friends Society as they are mentioned in his will.
Eveline died five years later, on 7th July 1976 aged 91 at Roundway Hospital, Devizes and left £6938.00.
The family lived at 12 Ayre Street, Tiverton and by 1901 had moved to 31 Victoria Terrace and Ernest aged 10 was presumably still at School. Having finished his education, he became a Clothiers Assistant and in 1911 now aged 20 was living in rooms and working at 1 The Promenade, Great Malvern. It is possible he worked at Brays on Worcester Road, also known as the Promenade. Brays were a large clothing company founded in 1895 and only ceased trading in 2019.
In 1912 Ernest appears to have emigrated to Canada aboard the Royal Mail Ship Royal Edward, part of the Royal Line, departing Bristol on 18th September and bound for Quebec. RMS, later HMT Royal Edward was a passenger ship belonging to the Canadian Northern Steamship Company that was later sunk during the First World War with a large loss of life while transporting troops. His occupation on the passenger manifest was now described as a Glove Cutter.
It is possible Ernest married whilst in Canada, but returned to the United Kingdom following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 aged 24, probably ready to volunteer. In any event he married Eveline Thirza Summers during the last quarter of 1915 in Bath.
Ernest enlisted into the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, which had been formed in 1914 and went to France in July 1915 as part of the 20th (Light) Division. His service number was 201909 and he was promoted to Sergeant. Ernest’s date of entry into France is not known but he did see service on the Western Front and disembodied on 26th September 1919, returning to the clothing trade.
For his war service he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest and Eveline had three children Margaret Eva born in 1920, Brian Ernest 1922 and Jean Sylvia 1931, who sadly died aged 3 in 1934.
Ernest joined the Special Constabulary in about 1936 and in 1939 was living at 20 Rowden Road, Chippenham and shown in the census as Manager of a Gents Outfitting company, as well as being a Special Constable.
He served throughout the War in the Special Constabulary and possibly the Air Raid Precautions qualified for the award of the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1941 and the first clasp in 1945. He was also awarded the Defence Medal and silver ARP lapel badge. He served in the SC until at least 1965 as he received further clasps dated 1955 and 1965 representing a total service of about 30 years.
Ernest died on 12th March 1971 aged 81 still living at 20 Rowden Road and was described as a retired Company Director, leaving £17,266.00. He appears to have been involved with the Aged Pilgrims Friends Society as they are mentioned in his will.
Eveline died five years later, on 7th July 1976 aged 91 at Roundway Hospital, Devizes and left £6938.00.
Naming on Ernest's Victory Medal
The Story The medal group awarded to Ernest Sumsion were acquired from E-Bay on 6th December 2020 and of interest because of the three clasps to the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, all fitting the correct date ranges. Assuming Ernest had joined the Specials in 1939, he would have qualified for the medal in 1942 and the first clasp in 1945 with war service counting treble. The remaining two clasps would be correct for further 10-year periods.
The usual Ancestry.UK checks were completed and extraction of wills, allowing Ernest’s biography to be completed.
The usual Ancestry.UK checks were completed and extraction of wills, allowing Ernest’s biography to be completed.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 201909 SJT.E.SUMSION. SOM.L.I.
- Victory Medal: 201909 SJT.E.SUMSION. SOM.L.I.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: ERNEST SUMSION
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This page last updated 16 Dec 20