Coller, Ernest

Ernest was born in Warwick during the second quarter of 1918. He attended Westgate School. His father James (1860-1947) was a general labourer. Ernest’s mother’s name was Clara Emmeline.

The 1921 census shows Ernest, aged 3 living with his brother Edward, aged 6 and sister Ruth aged 4, described as inmates and living at Receiving Homes, Wharf Street, Warwick under the care of the Warwick Board of Guardians.

The previous Census in 1911 listed more siblings – Mary (b 1902), Ellen (b 1904), James (b 1906). Two other siblings – John (b 1910) and Beatrice (b 1911), both died in infancy.

Ernest, he married Christina nee White in Q3 1939 in Aldershot, Hampshire.

The 1939 Register, shows details of three of Ernest’s siblings living in the family home – Edward and Ruth, listed in 1921 and a younger brother, Dennis (b 1926). Ruth’s married name was White.

We also know Ernest had another brother, Thomas John (born 1920) as he also died in the war and is listed on the Warwick War Memorial

The Warwick Advertiser piece about the Collers’ father, John, shows that there were 19 Coller children in all, although only 8 had survived at the time the piece was written.

Ernest’s mother Clara died in 1976 aged 94.