A Warwick Steam-Roller-Driver's Great War & Fire Brigade campaign & long service medal group of 3: Second Engineer Ernest Walter Anker, Warwick Fire Brigade late Royal Warwickshire Regiment

- British War Medal. Silver issue (37763 Pte. E. W. Anker. R.War R.)
- Interallied Victory Medals (37763 Pte. E. W. Anker. R.War R.)
- National Fire Brigade's Association. Long Service Medal & 'Twenty Years' clasp (3916 Ernest A. Anker)

The NFBA LSM with English silver hallmarks for Birmingham 1929, and the reverse of the medal additionally engraved with name of the unit 'Warwick Fire Brigade'

Portrait Photograph: See the Ancestry genealogical website that includes an attributed portrait photograph of the recipient

Ernest William Anker is recorded as employed as a Steam-Roller-Driver', by the Warwick Corporation Council, ref the recipients entries in the 1911 National Census a later 1939 National Register for England & Wales

Medals Verification: All medals confirmed s entitled per respective medal rolls and newspaper source cited blow:

- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1840. Entry shows prior service with Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Interallied Victory Medals: WO 329/1840: Entry shows prior service with Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- National Fire Brigade's Association. Silver Long Service Medal with 'Twenty Years' clasp. Awarded in 1931

The Ernest's earlier awards of the NFBU Bronze LSM for 10 years service, and a bar for a further 5 years service were reported in earlier issues of the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser and Leamington Gazette issues of 12 November 1921 & 17 April 1926 respectively

Ernest  Walter Anker son of Charles Anker and Caroline Anker (nee Slater) was a native of Warwick, Warwickshire, England, where he was born, 30 July 1879. At the time of the compilation of the 1911 National Census for England & Wales, Ernest is recorded employed as a 'Steam Roller Driver', and was living together with his wife Mary 'Emma' Anker (nee Midwinter) and their five children, comprising 3 x sons, Ernest William Anker, Percy Walter Anker, Cyril Charles Anker and 2 x daughters, Emily Maud Anker and Margery Anker, at the family residence located at, 7 Stand Street, Warwick. During the Great War, Ernest attested at Warwick for service in the British Army from 11 December 1915, under terms 'Duration of War' and on which date he was posted to the Army Reserve. Ernest was mobilized for 'War Service' on 23 August 1917, and posted to the depot of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and being posted to 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on, 27 November 1917. While serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment he held the regimental number 37763  Ernest's extant service papers (accessible and held at The National Archives) record that he served overseas with the British Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders for a period of 283days, during which time he was transferred to the Labour Corps (in which corps he held the regimental number 448963). Following his discharge from the British Army, Ernest returned to his family in Warwick, England, where he resumed his employment with the Warwick Corporation as a 'Steam Roller Driver'. By the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England & Wales, Ernest was recorded living with his family at their residence locate at, 13 Stratford Road, Warwick, Warwickshire, England. Under very tragic circumstances, the death of Ernest Walter Anker was recorded in the 'Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser' issue of, 25 September 1953:

Quote,

Aged man takes his own life

GRIEVED AFTER WIFE'S DEATH

A verdict of "Suicide while his mind was depressed" was recorded by the Coroner for Mid-Warwickshire, Dr. H.S. Tibbits, at the inquest at Warwick to-day on a 74 years old widower, Ernest Walter Anker, 13 Stratford Road, Warwick, who was found by his daughter hanging in the garage at the back of his home early on Tuesday evening.

The daughter Mrs. Betty Prescott, said that since her mother had died three months ago, her father had become depressed and lost interest in everything. On the day of his death he seemed quite normal.

Anthony John Prescott said he saw deceased hanging beside a step ladder from a rope attached to a hook.

In his summing up, the Corner said that deceased was obviously grieved by the loss of his wife and although he had given no intimation of his intention, he had taken his life when the depression and sadness overcame him.

The Coroner expressed his sympathy with the relatives, saying that Mr. Anker was a well-known figure in Warwick.

Mr. Anker was employed by Warwick Corporation for 60 years, first as a driver of a steam roller, and later as a roadman.

Unquote.

The medals mounted in the swing-style and as-worn by the recipient. The silk ribands suspended from a contemporary white metal mounting bar that retains its long hinged pin & clasps fittings

Condition: GVF

Code: 25873