Early Years
Ernest William Groves was born in Southwick, now in West Sussex in 1876, the fifth child of Albert Groves, a house decorator, who was from Fordingbridge in Hampshire, and his wife Elizabeth, who was from London. By the time of the 1881 census, the family consisting of Albert, Elizabeth, Louisa, Arthur, Ada, Albert, Ernest and his younger brother James were living in Spring Gardens, White Rock Road (now White Rock Place) in Southwick. The house no longer exists. By 1891 the family were still living in the same neighbourhood, and Ernest is listed as an apprentice, but the trade is not given.
On 3rd March 1901, Ernest married Rose Emma Willett in neighbouring Shoreham-By-Sea, and the couple moved into a house in Sea View Terrace in Southwick. This house also no longer exists. The census of that year gives Ernest’s trade as House Decorator. The couple had three children while they were living in Southwick, named Ronald, Harold and Rita. By 1911, Ernest and his family had moved back to his childhood neighbourhood and were resident at No. 8, White Rock Road, Southwick. Ernest was still working as a House Decorator.
They moved to Newick sometime before the war, where two further children, Max and Geoffrey were born, in July 1914 and September 1915 respectively. At some stage they moved into Wannock House, which still exists on the north side of the A272, to the west of The Green.
Joining up
Ernest joined up on 19th May 1916 in Lewes. His surviving military records give his age as 38 years 229 days (he was actually 39 years old), and show that he was 5ft 7½in tall and had a 35in chest. His trade was given as Assistant Insurance Superintendent, and his next-of-kin was Rose Groves of Wannock House, Newick. No.111968 Gunner Ernest Groves joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, and was posted to the 19th Company in early August 1916.
The Royal Garrison Artillery was formed in 1899, when the former Royal Artillery was split into two separate elements (the other was Royal Field Artillery). By the summer of 1916, Ernest’s unit was engaged on coastal defence duties on the Isle of Sheppey, off the north coast of Kent. United Kingdom based units were not required to keep a War Diary, so details of their operations are sparse.
Spotted Fever on the Isle of Sheppey
Gunner Groves died from spinal meningitis, (also known at the time as Spotted Fever) on 4th February 1917 during an outbreak of the infection on the Isle of Sheppey. His death certificate shows that he died in the military hospital in Sheerness. He was 40 years old (his death certificate shows his age as 41 years). Malaria also broke out on the Island later in the year.
Ernest was buried in Sheerness (Isle-of-Sheppey) Cemetery, a municipal burial ground in which soldiers and sailors who died on the island were buried amongst the graves of local civilians. There are 128 Great War burials scattered throughout the cemetery, although a number are concentrated around a replica Commonwealth War Grave Commission Cross of Sacrifice, erected by the people of Sheerness. There are also 38 Second World War burials, including 18 unidentified Merchant Seaman. There is no personal inscription on Ernest’s gravestone, which was replaced in 2005. His service record erroneously describes his place of burial as the Isle of Wight.
Ravelin Battery, Isle of Sheppey with two 9.2 inch guns.
Commemorating Percy Isard
Gunner Ernest Groves was not originally commemorated in Newick, although his name now appears on the list at The Green. His name is included on the Southwick War Memorial, which is located on the southern edge of the town’s Green, a short walk from where he was born. The Royal Artillery Memorial is located at Hyde Park Corner and was unveiled in 1925. It includes a sculpture of a 5.2inch howitzer as well as realistic reliefs of figures, including, unusually, a depiction of a dead artilleryman. A Roll of Honour listing the names of the 49,076 men who died as a result of service in the Royal Garrison Artillery and the Royal Field Artillery is buried beneath the monument. Plaques were added to the memorial in 1949, commemorating the 29,924 men killed serving with artillery during the Second World War.
