Ernest William Warnes was born in Carleton Rode in 1891 and his family lived on the Turnpike. His father, Robert was a local man and worked as a horseman on a farm. His mother Rhoda (nee King) came from Pulham Market. There were 9 children; 7 of whom survived. His brothers were John Robert and Christopher James, and his sisters were Sarah Ann, Maud Mary, Ella Mildred and Doris Violet. Both his brothers served in, and survived, the First World War and are named on the Roll of Honour Board. His mother died in the autumn of 1914.
School records show that Ernest started school in 1896 on the same day as Joseph Scott, who also served in the war but survived.
Ernest was a ploughman living in a cottage at Folly Farm on Upgate Street when he was conscripted on the 22nd May 1916. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA), where he became a Gunner.
Ernest contracted pneumonia in October 1918 whilst stationed on the Aisne, and died in a field hospital on the 22nd of that month, just twenty days before the end of the war.
He is buried at Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy near St Quentin.
Poignantly, Ernest’s father cannot write and when required to sign the official forms that arrive following his son’s death they have to be witnessed by the local magistrate who is William Bowles Colman.
There was a memorial service held for him in Carleton Rode Church on the 10th November 1918 (the day before the war ended).