Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Brownlow a coal miner, born 27th January 1851 in Coalville, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Ann Brownlow (nee Upton, married in the 4th quarter of 1871 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1854 in Coalville. Ernest, a schoolboy, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1884 in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, his siblings were, George William, a coal miner, born 15th February 1873 and John Joseph, a coal miner, born in the 4th quarter of 1874, the latter two siblings were both born in Coalville, James Walter a schoolboy, born 9th December 1886 in Hucknall Torkard, and Ambrose, born 27th August 1889 in Coalville, also residing in the family home was Ernest’s widowed maternal Grandfather, George Upton, who was on the sick list, born 1831 in Thringstone, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at Ashby Road, Coalville, together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, Walter, a coal miner, Ambrose, a schoolboy, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 30th November 1891 and Hannah Florence E., a schoolgirl, born 3rd May 1894, the latter two siblings were both born in Coalville, also residing with the family was Ernest’s widowed maternal Grandfather, George Upton. In April 1911 Ernest was employed a coal miner and was residing in the family home at 201, Ashby Road, Coalville, together with his wife Sarah Elizabeth Brownlow (nee Taylor, married in the 3rd quarter of 1905 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 25th June 1886 in Edale, Derbyshire and their children, George Harry, born 25th May 1907, Ernest, born 9th March 1909 and Hannah E., born 4th February 1911, all the children were born in Coalville. They also had the following children, Lilian M., born in the 3rd quarter of 1912, Thomas William, born 30th December 1912 and Phyllis E. I., born 30th August 1914, the latter three siblings were all born in Coalville. Ernest also had the following siblings, Harriett Ann Brownlow Upton, born in the 2nd quarter of 1871, Thomas Henry, born 12th April 1877 and Arthur born in the 3rd quarter of 1879, all three siblings were born in Coalville. Ernest’s widow married Arthur Slatter in the 1st quarter of 1919 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district. His brothers, Arthur and Ambrose both fell in action.
Ernest’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 4178, and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France during early 1916. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Saturday July 22nd 1916 The Nottingham Evening Post published the following article under the heading. “COALVILLE FAMILY BEREAVEMENT.” – THREE BROTHERS KILLED AT THE FRONT. News has been received in letters from soldier mates at the front that Private Ambrose Brownlow has been killed in action. He is a son of Mr. Thomas Brownlow, of Margaret-street, Coalville, a collier, who has had two other sons, Arthur and Ernest, previously killed in action, while a fourth soldier son has recently recovered from wounds. The three brothers killed were all privates in the Leicestershire Regiment, and before the war were working as colliers.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 7th, 1916

TWO MORE COALVILLE SOLDIERS KILLED

We regret to report the deaths of two more Coalville soldiers, killed in action in France. Private Ernest Brownlow, of Margaret Street, Coalville, a coal miner before the war, and popularly known in the football world as “Brudge” had only been in France three weeks and was killed on March 26th, the first time he went into the trenches. He leaves a wife and five children, and is the second of the same family to have fallen. Two more brothers are serving.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 14th, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER’S DEATH

SECOND IN ONE FAMILY

The news conveyed in letters to friends in the town of the death of Private Ernest Brownlow, of 99, Margaret Street, Coalville, was confirmed by a letter sent to his wife by Lieutenant A. G. Moore, of the Leicestershire Regiment. The officer wrote:

“Dear Mrs Brownlow, - It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, Private Brownlow. He was wounded by a bomb and died the following day. You and your family have my deepest sympathy, and that of the officers and men of the company. The short time he was in my company he proved himself to be a splendid soldier, perfectly fearless and always cheerful. You have this consolation that he died fighting for his King and country. The greatest honour a man can have is to die for his country. With much sympathy, I remain, yours sincerely, A. G. Moore, Lieutenant.”

Ernest Brownlow was one of four brothers who have been serving the army, and was the second to have fallen, his brother, Arthur, having been killed in June last. Their wives, two sisters, both reside in Margaret Street, and Mrs E. Brownlow is left with five little children, whose ages are 8, 7, 5, 3 and the baby about 20 months.

A sad feature is that it was Private Brownlow’s first time in the trenches, he having only been in France three weeks. Two months previously he was in Coalville on leave from Bulwell. He was 31 years of age, and enlisted nearly twelve months ago. Before then he was working at the South Leicestershire Colliery. For many years he played for Coalville Town F.C., and later for Hugglescote United, and was popularly known in local football circles as “Brudge” Brownlow.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 14th, 1919

COALVILLE COLLIER’S DEATH

THREE SONS KILLED IN THE WAR

The death occurred rather suddenly early on Monday morning of Mr Thomas Brownlow, of 104, Margaret Street, Coalville. He was 69 years of age and had worked as a collier for over 60 years, having for the last 25 years been employed at the South Leicestershire Colliery, and went to work as usual up to last Friday. He was out on Sunday, apparently in his usual health, and ate a hearty supper, but he became unwell during the night and passed away early on Monday morning. The widow, five sons and two daughters survive, but the deceased had ten sons, three of whom were killed in the war – probably the greatest loss experienced by any Coalville family. The three sons killed were Arthur, aged 36, who fell at Armentieres; Ernest, aged 34, a well-known Coalville Town footballer, whose death in action occurred at Vimy Ridge; and Ambrose, aged 27, who was killed on the Somme.
Five sons (all colliers) served in the war and one, Harry, was badly wounded at Guillemont Farm on the Somme, but is now making a good recovery. The latter and Arthur, the first of the three brothers to fall in the war also served in the South African War.

The death of Mr Brownlow was certified as due to valvular disease of the heart.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 13/10/2017