Major Ernest Edwin Ronald Heathcote, QSA

A strange life to crack.

• He appears to have been born Ernest Edwin Howlett in Grantham, Lincs, in Sept 1881
• Son of Edwin & Annie Howlett
• He put Grantham , Lincs in 1921 censusThough by then he is using Heathcote, not Howlett
• Death Cert says Thetford , Norfolk. He died as Heathcote"
• I found a Ancestry Tree for his daughter which gives her name as "Eileen Joyce " Howlett or Heathcote". It was registered as Heathcote, but she has changed it to Howlett later in her life

1881 Nov 13 Baptism. Name Earnest Edwin Howlett . Baptism Spittlegate, Lincoln, England Father Edwin Howlett. Mother Annie

1891 census at St Peter at Gowts, Lincolnshire

1901 census. His parents are at Thetford, Norfolk. But he is not with them

1900/1901 . QSA Medal from RAF record

1906 Natal Rebellion Medal. This was a British campaign medal. It was authorised in 1907 for service in Natal during a Zulu revolt against British rule and taxation in 1906. The 1906 Clasp to the medal was awarded to those who had served for more than fifty days. Altogether 9,979 medals were awarded, 8,045 with the clasp and 1,934 without the clasp. Most of the recipients were members of the Natal colonial military and police forces, while 546 medals were awarded to volunteers from the Transvaal Colony and 70 medals to troops from the Cape of Good Hope.

1907 - 1909 Compound Manager , Natal Premier Diamond Mine. The Cullinan Diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106.75 carats (621.350 g). It was found by Frederick Wells, surface manager of the Premier Diamond Mining Company in Cullinan, Gauteng, South Africa, on 25 January 1905. The stone was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the diamond mine.

1909 - 1914 Contractor and Director of Companies.

1911 Dec 9 Married in Durban

1912 Sep 12. A daughter Norah was born in J'burg. He is a "Financier"

1915 Mar 10. Gazetted 2nd Lt. Ernest Edwin Ronald Heathcote

1915 Jun 24. The King's Royal Rifle Corps. Temporary Lieutenant Ernest E. R. Heathcote, from a Service Battalion, to be temporary Lieutenant. Dated 21st December, 1915, but with seniority from 24th June, 1915.

1916 Apr 13. K. R. Rif. C, The undermentioned to be temp. Capts.: — Temp. Lt. E. E. R. Heathcote,

RAF Record

1918 Oct 7. Promoted temp Major.

1919 May/Jun Daughter Eileen Joyce Heathcote born Lewisham

1919 May 1. The undermentioned Capts. to be graded .for purposes of pay and allowances as Maj. whilst empld. as Majs.:— E. E. R. Heathcote.

1919 Aug 1. The undermentioned are transferred to the unempld. list: — Capt. E. E. R. Heathcote

1920 Nov 22. Joined ADRIC with service no 1083. . Posted to Depot Coy

1920 Dec 11. He was "Latimer's chauffeur" on the night of the Burning of Cork

1921 Mar 14 "Resignation accepted"

1921 census with wife at Miushall, Kingsdown, Deal, Ringwould, Kent,

1922 Oct 16. Arrives from Capetown, South Africa. "Soldier" . Kingstown, Deal Kent. The name is crossed out, so he may not have travelled. This implies 1878 birth

1929 Jan 1 Accident

1930 Dec 5. Drink driving charge dismissed

1939 Mar His wife Eileen (nee Kennedy) died

1945 Feb 7 Died Springs, Transvaal, South Africa

ADRIC

WO 339/2334