Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Ernest John “Spratt” Solomon

 

Ernest John Solomon, known as “Spratt” to his family and friends, was born on 17 October 1880 in Carlton Colville, Suffolk, England to John Soloman 1857-1938 and Ellen Maria Prior 1858-1901.  He was the eldest child of twelve born to John and Ellen.  Their children were:

    1.      Ernest John "Spratt" Solomon 1880–1919

    2.      Florence Mary Solomon 1882–1980

    3.      William Prior Soloman 1883–1963

    4.      Mahala Ellen "Nellie" Solomon 1885–1955

    5.      Kerenhappach Solomon 1886–1916

    6.      Mary Ann Grace Solomon 1888–1960

    7.      Elizabeth May Solomon 1889–1972

    8.      Alice Maud Solomon 1892–1968

    9.      Bessie Solomon 1893–1977

    10.  Jack Solomon 1895–1962

    11.  Ephraim "Ted" Soloman 1897–1962

                                                                    12.  Albert Edward Soloman 1902–1961

Ernest John Solomon was one of the first men to enlist during World War I in Carlton Colville, Suffolk, England and joined the 8^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in 1914.  Ernest went to France in July 1915 and remained there until the Armistice November 11, 1918.  He was involved in most of the fiercest fighting practically untouched. 

On Wednesday, September 3, 1919 he fell from a scaffold and broke his back, dying on September 6^th.  He was a man greatly respected.

Canon Bignold , the rector of St. Peter’s church in Carlton Colville wrote the following in his diary upon hearing of the death of Ernest John Solomon:

“September 6^th  The whole Parish is shocked today by the death through an accident of Ernest ‘Spratt’ Solomon.  ‘Spratt’ had been through the whole War on the Western Front from July 1915 until the Armistice, practically without a scratch.  Amongst all our labourers there was none more respected than he—a good son, a good brother to his motherless brothers and sisters, a good pal and, by the unanimous testimony of all the other lads, one of the bravest soldiers in the English Army.  One night he was seen by a comrade to slip over the top seven times into ‘no man’s land’, each time bringing back a wounded soldier, thereby saving their lives to the great peril of his own.  In civil life also he was a most trustworthy servant.  Such a man will be a great loss to our Parish in these times.  There is one solace, he died surrounded by those who loved him, and this would not have been the case had he fallen on the battlefield.  He was one of those who enlisted at my meeting on September 1^st 1914.  I was astonished because he was then a man of thirty-four, but he said, ‘I wasn’t going to be beat by the young ‘uns.’  It was a very good thing that he did go, as a man of his sterling character was a great help to the lads.

            “September 9^th  Ernest Solomon was buried today, directly behind the Scout Memorial.  A very large number of people were present.  The Parishioners have expressed a desire to erect a memorial to him, either over his grave or in the Church.  Dying as he has done from the result of an accident at home it is impossible to add his name to our Roll of Honour to be place in the Church.  Ernest was a very shy fellow and all this is a very striking proof of the influence of character.  He would be astonished at the outburst of feeling.  Socially he was not very high up the ladder, being only a bricklayer’s labourer.”

 

Genealogy:  Ernest John "Spratt" Solomon 1880-1919 was the son of Ellen Maria Prior 1858-1901 and her mother was Maria Blowers 1832-1871 and her father was John Blowers 1802-1883 and his mother was Susanna Barber 1771-1852 and her sister was Elizabeth Barber 1773-1835 and her son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.