Ernest Frederick WOOLAWAY. Mary Louisa WOOLAWAY. William Michael WOOLAWAY

Ernest Frederick WOOLAWAY, Corporal 1803, 4th Rifle Brigade, died 4th February 1908 aged 31 years and 6 months. Born in London, occupation a French Polisher, enlisted on the 11th December 1891. His widow was called Mary. He was born on the 17th August 1876, baptised on the 10th June 1877 at St Mark Regent's Park, Camden and the son of Robert Richard and Louisa Christina (nee Burgiss) of 10 Sharpleshall Street, Camden, London.

Some notes from what remains of his army record -
He was born at Primrose Hill, Middlesex in 1876, joined the army as a boy soldier aged 15 years and 4 months, on the 11th December 1891. Height, 4 feet and 10 inches. He was posted as Boy Soldier 6912 into the King's Royal Rifles, transferred later into the 4th Rifle Brigade as private 1803. On the 11th August 1894 he attained the age of 18 and became a regular soldier. He was stationed at Cork, Ireland, on the 10th September 1898 Ireland. In 1899 he married a local girl call Mary Cowley in Cork Registry Office. On the 11th December 1901 he was promoted to corporal and posted to South Africa to fight in the 2nd Boer War, he left South Africa to return to the Regimental Depot in England on the 20th September 1902. He extended his service to complete 21 years service with the colours on the 1st September 1904. At date unknown he was promoted to Sergeant and was posted to Malta on the 1st March 1906 as Sergeant Master Tailor.
He was arrested while in Malta on the 16th November 1907 and tried by the District Court Martial on the 23rd November 1907 for drunkenness. He was reduced to the rank of corporal, and returned to duty. He fell ill and was admitted into Military Hospital, Valletta on the 2nd February 1908 and died in the same hospital on the 4th February 1908 of pneumonia.

Mary Louisa, daughter, who died 25th January 1908 aged 8 months
Daughter of above

William Michael, who died 12th June 1906 aged 4 years. Son of above.

All at rest together in Plot A, Row 4, Grave 3 Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.

His wife Mary Woolaway left Malta with two sons bound for Cork, John, born at Cork in 1901 and Robert Thomas born 1904 at Porstmouth. Mary remarried to Harry Ford and in 1911 and they were all living at 170 Youghal Road, Cork. Mary had another child to Harry Ford.

His son Robert Thomas WOOLAWAY made the ultimate sacrifice in WW2. He was Gunner 14287029, with 268 Battery, 77th Light Anti Aircraft Gun, died in action on the 1st September 1945 aged 41. He was the son of Mary and husband of Rose nee Hopscoft of Birmingham. He is at rest in Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt. Grave 3 C 11