Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Wilbur, a hosiery trade dealer, born 1846 in Leicestershire and his wife Emma Maria Wilbur born 1853 in Hinckley. Ernest George, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1885 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Annie Maria, a schoolgirl, born 1881, Frederick John, a schoolboy, born 1882, Florence, Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1885, Mabel Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1888, Clara Emma, born 2nd March 1889 and Elsie May, born 29th September 1890, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at Coventry Road, Hinckley. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a painter’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Coventry Road, Hinckley, together with his father, a Co-operative Society porter, his mother and siblings, Annie, a hosiery trade stitcher, Florence, a hosiery trade machinist, Mabel, a hosiery trade stitcher, Clara and Elsie. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a house painter and was residing in the family home at 29, Manor Street, Hinckley, together with his wife Alice Wilbur (nee Hood, married in the 4th quarter of 1907 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), a hosiery trade machinist, born 1885 in Hinckley. The family home was later at Holly Croft Road, Hinckley. The epitaph that his widow chose for his grave was, “Lost awhile, in God’s eternal sunshine.”
Ernest attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 10th December 1915 in Hinckley. He gave his age as 30 years and his religion as United Board. After attestation on the 10/12/15 in Hinckley he was transferred as Gunner, service number 149609 to the Army Reserve on the 10/12/15. Mobilized on the 22/5/16. Posted to the No.1 Depot, Royal Field Artillery on the 23/5/16. Posted to 6 (B) Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery on the 17/6/16. Transferred as Private to the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, and allotted the service number 8216, on the 21/6/16. Posted to the 1/5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment on the 11/10/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 11/10/16. Disembarked Boulogne on the 11/10/16. Joined 34th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on the 12/10/16. Joined “C” Company, 1/5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, in the field on the 1/11/16. Transferred to 147th Company, Machine Gun Corps, and allotted the service number 73434 on the 24/2/17. Killed in action, in the field on the 20/6/17. A summary of his service records: Total service 1 year 193 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Ernest’s widow was awarded a weekly pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence to commence on the 7th January 1918. The following information was provided by Ernest’s wife Alice Wilbur on the 23rd April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by H. C. -?-, Congregational Minister, -?- -?- Road, Hinckley on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier Alice Wilbur of Holly Croft Road, Hinckley. Father of soldier, John Wilbur of Factory Road, Hinckley. Mother of soldier Emma Wilbur of Factory Road, Hinckley. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Half blood brother of soldier, Arthur Wilbur, age 52 of Queen’s Road, Hinckley. Full blood sisters of soldier, Annie Dalby, age 38 of Coventry Road, Hinckley. Florence Smedley, age 34 of Factory Road, Hinckley. Mabel Wilbur, age 31 of Factory Road, Hinckley, Elsie Faulkes, age 28 of Factory Road, Hinckley. Clara Kirkham, age 30 of Factory Road, Hinckley. Ernest’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 20 Jun-17 – ST. ELIE Sector LOOS. Heavy enemy Trench Mortar activity in RIGHT and LEFT Sectors necessitating the removal of the gun at FARMERS LANE in the LEFT Sector to STANSFIELD ROAD. No.1 Section gun fired at G.16.a.8.9 fired 800 rounds at G.12.a.8.3 to G.12.c.0.4 from 8.30pm to 11.00pm.