Ernest Stainer

Story:
Ernest Stainer was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21 Aug 1887, the son of Gideon Stainer and Emily Stainer (née Sims).  He lived his early life at the family home in Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury.  It is known he enlisted with the 1st/9th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 355691).  His name appears on the Absent Voters list for Bozley Hill, Cann in 1918.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He had married Ethel Gertrude Dotterill in Portsmouth, Hampshire, during 1915 and the 1921 Census shows him living at 26 Western Avenue, Milton, Portsmouth, Hampshire, described as a Bakery Worker. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 30 Oriel Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, now a Baker's Roundsman.  He died in Warminster, Wiltshire, on 2 Feb 1974 where he had been living by then at 35 Portway, Warminster. His brothers, Austin Frederick Stainer, Francis Hubert Stainer, William Edgar Stainer and Harry Gilbert Stainer, also served during the conflict.