ERNEST JOSEPH BOORN
The Boorn family were living in Titchfield, near Fareham, for many years before they secured their connection to Portsmouth by moving to the town between 1901 and 1911. The reason for the move is unknown but there were probably better prospects of work in Portsmouth than in the village of Titchfield.
The family that made the move consisted, in 1911, of Joseph Pilgrim Boorn who was born in 1849 at Fareham, his wife Sarah Eliza (nee Best, born 1848, at Milbourne Port, Somerset) and their children Ernest Joseph (b. 1884), Florence Agnes (b. 1886) and Reginald George (b. 1887). All three children were born in the district of Fareham. The family's address at the time of the 1911 census was 57 Hatfield Road, Eastney when Joseph Pilgrim was described as a Commission Agent and Ernest Joseph as an assistant in a dairy company.
1911 also saw Ernest Joseph get married to Gertrude M. Winter, daughter of George and Catherine Winter of 8 Clegg Road, Eastney. It's not known whether the couple set up their own home or Ernest simply joined the Winter's household. Either way their time together was destined to be short as Ernest probably enlisted in the Worcestshire Regiment shortly after war was declared in August 1914. His Battalion did not land in France until 24th May 1916 after which it saw plenty of action including the First Battle of the Somme 1918 where Ernest Joseph probably lost his life.
Further Information
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website lists Ernest Joseph Boorn, Private (204225), 2nd/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, date of death, 27/03/1918, aged 34. Buried at Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery (Grave ref: IX.C.2.). Son of Joseph P. and Sarah E. Boorn; husband of Gertrude M. Boorn, of "Trebartha", 8, Clegg Rd., Southsea, Hants.
Ernest Boorn is remembered on the Cenotaph in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth. He is not listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War', Section X.
Tim Backhouse
December 2014