Ernest Cole

Story:
Ernest Cole was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Jun 1884 and baptised there on 3 Aug 1884 the son of James Cole and Maria Cole (nee Hann).   He lived his early life with his family in West Street, Fontmell Magna.   By 1911 he had moved to 8 Mount Row, Hanover Square, London, as a boarder and working as a Chauffeur.   He enlisted on 24 Jul 1916 and joined the Royal Navy becoming an Air Mechanic Class 1 with the Naval Air Service (Service No. F18612).   He was transferred to the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 with a similar rank (Service No. 218612).  He was discharged on 25 Feb 1919 having served all his time in the UK and was awarded the British War Medal only.   The 1921 Census shows him living in with his business partner and family at 17 Porchester Mews, Bayswater, Paddington, London, described as a Chauffeur and Mechanic. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 79 Stanford Street, Brighton, Sussex, described as a Garage Proprietor.  The is no reliable date of death.