Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Iliffe, a shoe trade finisher, born 1851 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Iliffe (nee Porter, married in the 2nd quarter of 1884 in the Leicester district), born 1857 in Leicester. Ernest Willoughby was born in the 1st quarter of 1886 in Leicester, he had one sibling, a sister, Gertrude Elizabeth, born 1890 in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 1, St. Nicholas Street, St. Martin’s Leicester. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a bicycle repairer and was residing in the family home at 27, Temperance Terrace, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his father a wool trade machinist, his mother and siblings, Gertrude and Elsie May, born 1897, in Leicester. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a Midland Railway labourer and was residing in the family home at Regents Place, Melton Mowbray, together with his wife Emma Iliffe (nee Weston, married in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1889 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, and their children, Willie, born 1906 and Arthur Ernest, born 1909, both children were born in Melton Mowbray, also residing with the family was his maternal aunt, Emma Porter, a domestic servant, born 1862 in Leicester.
The War Diary records: 10-13 Nov-15 - TRENCHES, WEST OF MONCHY. The weather during the day was bad, the rain being practically incessant. By the 13th November the trenches were in a waterlogged condition. In Groups 1 and 2 especially the parapets of these trenches had fallen in and many of the bays were impassable. Some of the smaller communication trenches were waist deep in liquid mud. SHELL STREET was however kept serviceable, though the walls of the trench fell in, in a number of places. Lack of material increased the difficulties of improving the condition of the trenches. The soil necessitated the strongest form of revetment.
On Friday November 26th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON PLATELAYER KILLED. (A photograph accompanied the article). Mrs. E. Iliffe, 27, Thorpe-end, Melton Mowbray, has received an intimation from Capt. T. L. Angel, the officer in charge of records for the No.6 District at Lichfield, stating that her husband, Pte. Ernest Iliffe, of the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action, at a place not stated, on the 11th November. Accompanying it was the usual note from Lord Kitchener, expressing sympathy on behalf of the King and Queen. A letter from the Chaplain states that he was killed in the trenches during a bayonet charge. Deceased who was 29 years of age, was formerly a platelayer on the Midland Railway. He was in the Territorials for four years, but he left before the outbreak of the war, and on the 12th September, 1914, enlisted in the 9th Leicesters.
On Friday November 9th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading.“BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. – ILIFFE.- In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. Ernest Iliffe, of Melton Mowbray, killed in action November 10th or 11th, 1915. Two years have passed since that sad day. When from us he was called away. But the hardest part has yet to come. When the heroes all return. And we miss amongst the cheering throng. The face of our dear Ernest. From his ever loving mother, Elsie, Gertie and Bill.
On Friday November 15th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. ILIFFE. – In affectionate remembrance of our dear son and brother, Pte. Ernest Iliffe, 9th Leicester’s, killed in action, November 11th, 1915.
With aching hearts we shook his hand.
Tears glistened in our eyes.
We wished him luck, but little thought.
It was his last good-bye.
Somewhere out yonder he is lying.
But where we cannot tell.
But God above. He knows the place.
He was with him when he fell.
But the hardest part is now at hand.
When the heroes will return.
And we miss among the cheering throng.
The face of our own dear boy.
From his ever loving Mother, Elsie, Gertie and Bill in France.