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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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Ernest was in camp there at the time and it was a Liverpool parish declared for him in the banns.

Having been on the depot staff at the Brecon Barracks, Ernest was later a drummer. He was well known in local sporting circles, having played fullback for the depot team in the Mid Wales League.

The 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers were a reserve battalion and remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war. They moved from Brecon to Pembroke Dock in August 1914 and later to Hightown near Liverpool in June 1915 as part of the Mersey Garrison.

Ernest died at his home in Bristol in May, 1916 after being ill for some time. His body was conveyed to Brecon by train and it was met at the station to be taken in procession to St David’s Church, where a service was held before interment in the churchyard, with full military honours. Mourners included Nellie, as well as Ernest’s sister and Nellie's father George and other members of her family.

Ernest was born in Ipswich in 1888, a son to James, a shoemaker, and his wife Alice (nee Turner). Beatrice his older sister was born in 1884, with younger sister Ellen Florence born in 1893.

James died in 1896 and Alice probably died the next year, leaving the children orphaned. By 1901 Beatrice is working as a servant, but Ernest and Ellen are inmates in St John's School for Boys and Girls in Ipswich. This school is associated to the Ipswich Union Workhouse.

Ellen died in 1907 aged only 14 years and by 1911 Ernest has already joined the army and is a private with the South Wales Borderers based in Brecon Barracks.

Ernest's wife Nellie (Ellen) Lewis was born in Brecon and lived with her family in Newmarch Street, Llanfaes, Brecon working as a domestic servant in 1911, although the family moved to Ogmore Vale after that.

The couple married in August 1915 in St David’s Church, Llanfaes. The wedding breakfast was held at Nellie's sister's house at 3, Masons Row, Llanfaes, before the couple left for Liverpool for their honeymoon.

Lance Corporal Ernest Frederick Tricker

South Wales Borderers, 3rd Battalion, service no. 8322

Died on May 27th, 1916 at home, aged 27

Buried in St David's Churchyard, Brecon