Am now researching my Mothers family I have drawn a blank on Ernest William. He was born in Wetherden, Suffolk 1906 I recall my Mother talking about her brother being in the RAF and she had a photo of him which looked like in RAF Uniform. I've trawled through FMP WWII records without any success. Post War he was a Bus Driver in Chelmsford. Would really like help to clear this question up. Thanks Bernard
Do you have him in 1939? This one looks probable. tna_r39_1558_1558a_025 9 London Rd. Braintree. Ernest W. Smith b.1 Nov. 1906 bus conductor & wife Ivy U.b 13 May 1905 Marriages Sep 1928 -Braintree Ivy v. Taylor
Bernard can ou give parents names because Smith is very common and surprisingly so is ernest William!
He and his parents (James and Louisa) and siblings can be found in 1911 in Wetherden, which might provide background clues. RG14PN10683 RG78PN575 RD209 SD2 ED9 SN54
saw that Jan are we sure this is our Ernest does seem right I had a look at RAF list on Ancestry couldn't see an Ernest with this birth date not that it means he wasn't in RAF just not on list I looked at!!
I found a school record for him on FMP which gives his d.o.b. as 1st Nov 1906. So the chap that Ma-dotcom found in 1939 looks like your Ernest William.
Great... That's def Ernset W. Strange how memories can be unreliable!!!!! Several of the Smith family moved from Wetherden, to within a stones throw of Braintree. My mother before her marriage lived in Pattiswick, others in Kelvedon, Coggeshall, all within the Braintree Reg Area. Plus in the 1950's my Mother took me for the August holidays to stay with her Brother George and family in Kelvedon and her siblings would be around. I've sorted through the old photos again. Naturally, the one with Ernest is B&W and not very clear. The buttons on his jacket have some emblem but too indistinct. Also there is a possible shoulder flash, but mostly off the picture, only a hint. I do know that Ernest's wife was Ivy, as her name is scribbled on the reverse of a family group photograph. So all in all, RAF is where memory is dashed on the reality of fact. My thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread. Bernard