Ernest George Poisden 1876 – 1957
Ernest was born in Boughton, Blean on 29th August 1876, to George and Ann Maria (née Croucher) On the 1891 Census, the family were still in Boughton and at the age of 13, George was working as an agricultural labourer. His sister, Annie Elizabeth, married Walter Sion Rofe and lived at Shepherdswell.
On 12th February 1897, Ernest joined the Royal Navy as a stoker, 2nd class, service no. 284829, at Chatham. He is described as having a fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, and stood 5’ 5½” tall.
He served on many ships including Pembroke II, Wildfire, Victorious, Northampton, Rosario, Northumberland, Acheron, Berwick, Leander, Blenheim, Indus, Tyne and Inflexible, becoming a chief stoker.
Ernest married Annie Elizabeth Tyrell in Hougham on 26th December 1899, and they had a daughter, Lilian Dorothy who was born on 18th June 1908 and baptised in Bobbing. It is likely that they also had a son, Reginald, who was born and died in 1910. Lilian was admitted to Sibertswold School on 8th May 1917, when the family’s address was 1 Botolph Street, however she died a month later, on the 8th June in the Fever Hospital in Dover.
The 1939 Census found them living in Whitstable and Ernest was described as retired. He died there on 16th February 1957.