Ernest James Mallett

Story:
Ernest James Mallett was born on 20th November 1890 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 1st March 1891, the son of William Mallett and Emma Selina Mallett (née Draisey).  He lived his early life at Park Cottage, Milton, East Knoyle.   He enlisted on 27th October 1915 and joined the Army Service Corps as a Private (Wheeler) (Service No. M2/137310).   He served in France & Flanders from 27th Mar 1916 with the 20th Division Supply Company (Motor Transport) and, whilst there received bayonet wounds on 22nd June 1916 from which he eventually recovered.  He was discharged on 8th September 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at The Railway Hotel, Semley, Wiltshire, where his brother was the licensee and where he worked for the hotel as a Motor Assistant. By the 1939 Register he was still single and living at 33 The Street, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a carpenter and undertaker.   He died on the 12 Nov 1974 in the Warminster, Wiltshire, Registration District. Ernest's sister Winifred (b.1897) also served in the war, as a VAD nurse with the British Red Cross at the Tisbury Auxiliary Hospital.  His brother, Percival John (Jack) Mallett, served in the Royal Navy and also survived.