No. 975, Lance Corporal, Ernest ROLPH
Aged 31
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Ernest Rolph was born in 1887 in Swaffham Bulbeck (Newmarket Q1-1887 3B:523), son of Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth ROLPH (née SCOTT).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck with his father Thomas ROLPH, [34] bricklayer; his mother Sarah Elizabeth [28] born Swaffham Prior; sisters Beatrice E [9], Florence [7], Naomi [6] and Amy [11 months]. All except his mother were born in Swaffham Bulbeck. 1901 census...Aged 14, he was in Swaffham Bulbeck with his father, and stepmother Charlotte [46] born Swaffham Bulbeck. His mother died in 1892 and his father married Charlotte BUTLER in 1894. 1911 census... Aged 24, he was a handyman at the Rectory, Cottisford, Brackley. His father and stepmother were in Swaffham Bu63lbeck with his half brother [5] Thomas Anderson ROLPH. He appears to be the Ernest ROLPH who sailed from London aboard the "Demosthenes" to Sydney, Australia on 18th January 1912. |
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He enlisted in Pomona, Queensland, Australia on 12th January 1915, giving his age as 28, a labourer born Swaffham Bulbeck, England, father Thomas of Swaffham Bulbeck,
as next of kin, later changed to his sister Ethel ROLPH of Wetheringsett Manor, Stowmarket. His father had died in 1917. Weighing 147 lbs (66.7 kg), he was 5 feet 8.5
inches (174 cm)tall, chest 35" to "38 (88.9 to 96.5 cm), blue grey eyes, brown hair, Church of England. He was living at Rose Vale, Post Office, Deeford, Via Mount Morgan, Queensland.
He left Australia on 29th June 1915 on HMAT "Aeneas" for Gallipoli. Leaving Gallipoli on "Hororata" on 3rd November 1915, he disembarked at Alexandria in 9th January . Then on 14th March left Alexandria and arrived Marseilles on the 19th. He received a severe gunshot wound to his left shoulder on 5th June 1916, and was sent via No.3 C.C.S. to St John's Hospital, Etaples on the 6th June, then to UK on H.S."Brighton" on the 12thm, admitted to Military Hospital, Chatham. Following various transfers between hospitals and a convalescent leave he reported in Portsmouth for further training, then to Perham Down and finally he left Tidworth for France on 17th May 1918, joining his battalion in the field on 20th May. Reported wounded in action on 10th June 1918, he was eventually recorded as killed in action on that day. In his will, signed on 5th October 1917 and appointing his uncle at 66 St Andrew Street, Cambridge as administrator, he instructed his estate be shared equally between his step mother Charlotte ROLPH of Swaffham Bulbeck, sister Florence CHAMBERS of Eccleshall, Staff, sister Beatrice Ethel ROLPH of Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, sister Naomi MATTHEWS of Birmingham, sister Amy SHIPP of Swaffham Bulbeck and "his beloved" Bertha BUTLER of 66 St Andrews Street, Cambridge. On the 10th June 1918 the 3rd battle of Molancourt took place at Molancourt spur near the village of Sailly-Laurette on the Somme. The Australians fought with determination and pride. They captured the Germans front line defences taking 325 German prisoners of war as well as inflicting heavy casualties. The Australians lost 400 men in the battle, 134 killed, of which 49 were from the 25th Battalion.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and commemorated on the monument on his parent's grave in Swaffham Bulbeck click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
