Ernest Henry Breeze

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Crownsin, Ernest died on 4th of May 1916 at the age of 28. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft on 28 May 1892, a son of Samuel Benjamin Wicks and Eleanor Jane Breeze. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 17 July 1892 and his family lived at 57 Queens Road, and this was still their address in 1901. By 1911 they were living at 18 Essex Road.

On 20 January 1914 Ernest married Alice Beatrice Putford at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, Ernest was a fisherman living at 18 Essex Road, and Alice lived at 7 Stanford Street. Their home was at 18 Sandringham Road.  

Ernest joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 20 August 1915. He served on the trawler Eileen Emma, LT 342, before joining the Armed Boarding Steamer H.M.S. Stephen Furness. On 23 October 1915 he joined the trawler Crownsin. 

On 4 May 1916 the Crownsin struck a mine, off Malta, and exploded. All eleven crew, including Ernest, were killed.