Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Maples, a stone quarry worker, born 1844 in Sileby, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Maples (nee Chesterton, married Q3 1868 in the Hinckley, Leics. district), born 1851 in Stoney Stanton, Leics. Ernest was born on the 30th November 1894 in Stoney Stanton, Leics., his siblings were, Francis William, a stone quarry worker, born 1878, Emma, a hosiery trade linker, born 1881, Edith Lilian, a hosiery trade linker, born 1883, Harry, a hosiery trade runner on, born 1886, Violet C., born 1891 and Elizabeth Ann, born 1897, all his siblings were born in Stoney Stanton, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Long Street, Stoney Stanton, Leics. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a hosiery trade runner on and was residing in the family home at Long Street, Stoney Stanton, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Violet, a hosiery trade runner on and Elizabeth, a servant. Ernest enlisted on the 15th July 1915 and embarked to join the Mediteranean Expeditionary Force on the 5th December 1915, joining his unit, the Hood Battalion at Mudros on the 8th January 1916 and serving with this unit until he was reported missing, later presumed killed in action on the 4th February 1917.