PORRILL, Ernest Hartland

Ernest Hartland Porrill was born in March1877 in Caistor,Lincolnshire, the son of George and Mary Sophia Porrill. He first appears on the census in 1881 at which time the lived at 132, Heneage Street, Clee and Weelsby, Caister. The family consisted of George who was a “Primitive Methodist Missionary”, his wife Mary Sophia, Ernest aged 4, Mary J,2 and Florence G,0. Also Louisa Braham 13 described as a “missionary servant”.

Ten years later the 1891 census tells us the family had moved to 188, Freeman Street, Great Grimsby, Caistor, Lincs. George is now working as a “confectioner”, as is his wife. Ernest at 14 is working as a “draper’s errand boy”. Florence and Maud M are both scholars. There is a record of the death of Mary Jane Porrill in September 1883 aged 4. By the 1901 census the family had moved to Scarborough but Ernest was not living at home. However in December 1905 we know he married Edith Lavinia Richardson in Patrington. By the 1911 census the couple were living with Edith’s father,a widower, in Hilston along with their children George Porrill aged5 and Irene 3.Ernest was working as a “Yardman on farm”.

Ernest enlisted in Malton in the East Yorkshire Regiment 3rdBattalion. The 3rd was a reserve battalion stationed at Beverley,moved to Hull then to Withernsea. Ernest died in Pocklington on the 02/12/1917. No cause of death was given. On Soldiers who Died in the Great War it simply says under the heading cause of death, died.

Ernest is commemorated in Dean Road Cemetery ref EB.76