Soldiers who Survived
Ernest HANKEY
Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Residence
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Not known
Not known / Not known
1894
7 Fairs Row, Rainhill
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Ernest was born in Rainhill in 1894 and by 1901 was living at 7 Fairs Row with his parents Jonathon and Jane and his elder sister Margaret and younger brother Harold.
Ernest was one of the very few people to figure twice in the 1911 Census. He is listed as living at home with his family when, in fact he was living at Rainhill (Loyola) Hall as a 17-year-old footman. He had been at the Hall since 1907. Firstly he had been a stable boy, then a footman and finally as personal valet to Count Von Blucher.
Ernest and his family had become Roman Catholics in order for him to work at the Hall and he was often present when rents were collected at the old Ship Inn.
In winter the family from The Hall travelled south to their house in Fareham where the weather was warmer and Ernest rode on top of the coach in full livery.
At the start of WW1 the Von Bluchers had to return to Germany and Ernest was called up. We know nothing of his wartime service except that he was physically injured and the Stapleton-Bretherton family wanted him to return to work at the Hall after the war. However, he felt he had seen what it was like to work in the outside world and in time he had many jobs including driving steam engines, working in the family dairy and owning a chip shop
.
In 1929, he married Sarah Ann Featherstone at Eccleston Parish Church and died in 1968 aged 74.
Acknowledgement: Mrs C Lawton, daughter
Ernest was one of the very few people to figure twice in the 1911 Census. He is listed as living at home with his family when, in fact he was living at Rainhill (Loyola) Hall as a 17-year-old footman. He had been at the Hall since 1907. Firstly he had been a stable boy, then a footman and finally as personal valet to Count Von Blucher.
Ernest and his family had become Roman Catholics in order for him to work at the Hall and he was often present when rents were collected at the old Ship Inn.
In winter the family from The Hall travelled south to their house in Fareham where the weather was warmer and Ernest rode on top of the coach in full livery.
At the start of WW1 the Von Bluchers had to return to Germany and Ernest was called up. We know nothing of his wartime service except that he was physically injured and the Stapleton-Bretherton family wanted him to return to work at the Hall after the war. However, he felt he had seen what it was like to work in the outside world and in time he had many jobs including driving steam engines, working in the family dairy and owning a chip shop
.
In 1929, he married Sarah Ann Featherstone at Eccleston Parish Church and died in 1968 aged 74.
Acknowledgement: Mrs C Lawton, daughter