Selected Biography

Ginger, Ernest George – Born: Hornsey, Middlesex on 5.12.1894.[1]  Parents: David Ginger (Contractor’s Carman) and Charlotte [née Potton].  Family Connections: Father-in-law of Cyril Charles Gardiner [b1920], and brother-in-law of Alfred Andrews [b1889].  Home: Denmark Road, Hornsey (1901), 137 Mount View Road, Muswell Hill, Middlesex [1915], Liston Lane, Long Melford [1917], Webbs Court, The Green, Long Melford [1919], Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Greengrocer [1914], Roadman and Air Raid Warden (1939).  Married: Annie Andrews of Long Melford in 1916.  Annie wrote a rather poignant letter to the Army in July 1915 regarding her relationship with Ernest, it reads:  Gunner Ginger is my sweetheart, and I am expecting to be a mother he said he would marry me, so please will you look into the matter, so myself and child will be provided for, as I was given to understand you could.  PS. My parents are poor and cannot afford to keep me and the child, we have been together for 2 years last March.[2]  Their daughter was born in April, the couple marrying when Bombardier Ginger was given leave in August 1916.  There is however a sad coda to the story when in November 1917 a Death Certificate was issued for Annie May Andrews who died of meningitis aged only 19 months.  Service Record: Ernest enlisted on 6.9.1914 as Gunner, later promoted to L/Bdr.22446 with ‘B’ sub-section ‘D’ Battery, LVI [Howitzer] Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and posted as part of 10^th [Irish] Division to Gallipoli from 19.7.1915 to January 1916.  He was later posted to France to 11^th Divisional Ammunition Column, RFA, serving on the Western Front from 12.8.1916 to 28.2.1918, where he was twice wounded; first by a gunshot to his right leg on 22.8.1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres, and later by a gunshot to the buttock on 18.4.1918.  He was discharged in March 1919.[3]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1961.

Related Biography

Gardiner, Cyril Charles – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 20.10.1920.[4]  Parents: Charles Alfred Gardiner (Builder’s Labourer) [see Gardiner file for details] and Elizabeth J. [née Williams].  Family Connections: Nephew of Ernest Arthur Gardiner [b1876] and Bertie Charles Gardiner [b1879]; also, son-in-law of Ernest George Ginger [b1894].  Home: 51 Brook Street, Glemsford, Suffolk [1920] to (1939).  Occupation: Builder’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Dorothy Maud Ginger in 1946.  Service Record: Cyril was conscripted during the Second World War as Gnr.1769167 with the Royal Regiment of Artillery.[5]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 28.11.2008.[6]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [2] Annie’s letter and Annie May’s Death Certificate are both to be found in Ernie’s Service Record. [3] For details of 16^th Brigade’s deployment in Gallipoli and 11^th DAC’s movements on the Western Front see War Diaries [WO 95/4295] and [WO 95/1802/5].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [4] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register. [5] Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942.  [6] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.