Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Ernest Barlow, a grocer and shop keeper, born on the 18th August 1862 in St. John, Timberhill, Norwich, Norfolk and his wife Rachel Twyford Barlow (nee Harvey, married on the 15th September 1884 in the Wesleyan Chapel, Ely, Cambridgeshire), born on the 19th June 1852 in Colchester, Essex. Ernest John was born on the 1st September 1891 in Royston, Hertfordshire, his siblings were, Alfred Charles, born on the 1st June 1889 and Mabel Emily, born in the 2nd quarter of 1890, the latter two siblings were both born in Royston, Percival Edward, born on the 25th May 1894 and Harold George, born in the 3rd quarter of 1896, the latter two siblings were both born in Baldock, Hertfordshire, also residing in the family home was Ernest’s paternal uncle, John Henry Barlow, a grocer and shop keeper, born in the 3rd quarter of 1871 in Spalding, Lincolnshire, in March 1901 the family home was at High Street, Baldock. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a shop assistant and was residing in the family home at 8, Cleave Road, Gillingham, Kent, together with his father, an advertising manager, his mother and siblings, Mabel, a milliner, and Harold, a schoolboy. Ernest married Muriel Frith Spencer on the 12th August, 1931 in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Great Glen, Leicestershire, Muriel, a school teacher was born on the 29th October 1903 in Hawkedon, Suffolk, the family later resided at Burton Lane, Fleckney, Leicestershire.
Ernest died on the 14th May 1958 from the effects of myelitis (transverse) which was a condition that he had developed during his period of military service, and was the direct result of him being medically discharged from the Army on the 24th September, 1917 as being unfit for further War Service, he died on the 14th May 1958, and his place of burial is presently unknown. He is commemorated by name on the War Memorial in Great Glen village under the heading. “Died as the Result of War Service” this records the names of seven men who died in the aftermath of the Great War from war related conditions.
Ernest enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 15th September 1914 in Portsmouth, and was allotted the service number 12078. He gave his place of birth as Royston, Cambridgeshire and age as 23 years 15 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shop assistant, employed by Messrs John Dyers, Furnishing Warehouse, Southsea.
His medical examination took place in Portsmouth on the 15th September 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 23 years 15 days, that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height, weighed 125 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar on right ear. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Alfred Ernest, 38, Malvern Road, Gillingham, Kent.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Exeter. 15/9/14.
Attested. Devonshire Regt. Pte. 15/9/14.
Joined. Depot, Devonshire Regt. Pte. 15/9/14.
Posted. To 10th Bn. Devonshire Regt. Pte. 26/9/14.
Transferred. Divisional Cyclist Corp. Pte. Allotted service number 2373. 5/1/15.
Posted. To 26th Divisional Cyclist Company. Pte. 5/1/15.
Charged. Neglect of duty, Award. 2 days Confined to Barracks. 6/2/15.
Charged. Absent from tattoo 11/6/15 until 9.00pm 17/6/15. Award. Forfeits 6 days pay. 18/6/15.
Charged. Absent off pass from 12 midnight 22/8/15 until 9.15am 23/8/15. Award. Admonished. 23/8/15.
Disembarked. Havre. 19/9/15.
Embarked. Per H.M.T. Canada. Marseilles. 13/11/15.
Disembarked. At Salonika. 25/11/15.
Attached. 26th Divisional Headquarters. In the Field. 23/3/16.
Sick. In the Field. 8/9/16.
Rejoined. 26th Divisional Headquarters. In the Field. 11/9/16.
Granted. Proficiency Pay Class II @ 3d diem. Salonika. 15/9/16.
Sick. From 26th Divisional Headquarters. In the Field. 19/10/16.
Admitted. 42nd General Hospital. Malaria and Diarrhoea. 20/10/16.
Discharged. Per Hospital Ship Essequibo. Salonika. 13/11/16.
Admitted. Cottonera Military Hosptal. Acute myelitis and Malaria. Malta. 18/11/16.
Transferred. From Cottonera Military Hospital. To Ghain Tuffieha Convalescent Camp. Malta.
Posted. Army Cyclist Corps. XII C,C.B. Pte. Malta. 25/2/17.
Admitted. To Cottonera Military Hospital. Malta. 16/4/17.
Transferred. From Cottonera Military Hospital, Malta to UK. Per H.M.T. Manitou. 2/8/17.
Posted. Army Cyclist Corps. Training Centre. Pte. 11/8/17.
Discharged. “Being no longer physically fit for War Service.” Vide Para 392 (XVI) King’s Regulations.” 24/9/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 15/9/14 – 18/9/15. 1 year 54 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 19/9/15 – 12/11/15. 55 days.
Salonika Force. 13/11/15 – 10/8/17. 1 year 271 days.
Home Service. 11/8/17 – 24/9/17. 45 days.
Total Service. 3 years 10 days – Total Pensionable Service 3 years 4 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge No. 248429.
Ernest’s surviving service record amounts to a total of forty six pages, of which all pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of the events that took place during his period of his military service.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photographs submitted by J Hall 23/01/2022, in group photo Ernest is seated on the right, with his brother in law Oswald Gordon Stewart next to him, at the back are his brothers Harold and Percy.