Ernest was born in Walthamstow on 9th July 1891 and attended Ilford County High School until 15th January 1906. When he left school, Ernest became a stockbroker’s clerk.
In 1911, Ernest was one of three living children of Ernst Emil and Alice Schenker. His twin sister, Dorothy and brother Leonard had both died. His father was born in Saxony which might explain why the family dropped the ‘c’ in their surname by the time that the war began. His family lived in Park Road, Ilford and his father worked as a Master hair-dresser/ barber. His younger brother, Reginald, had also studied at Ilford County High School.
Ernest enlisted at Woolwich and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (service number 33351) as a private. In the Christmas 1915 edition of Chronicles it reported that, ‘Lance-Corpl. E. A. Shenker, 32nd Field Ambulance, 31st Infantry Brigade, 10th Division, B. M. E. F., writes commenting on the bad food, dysentery, and heat which accompany our Mediterranean forces.
“It is exceedingly hot out here, and we are glad to dispense with our coats while at work. However, the heat does not seem to trouble Mr. Turk, for we picked one up yesterday wearing seven shirts, three pairs of pantaloons, three pairs of socks, and two tunics!’
He worked in No1. British General Hospital. He died on 22nd September 1918 near Baghdad in the Mesopotamia theatre of war. The Autumn 1918 Chronicles referred to his death, ‘We regret to announce the death in Baghdad Hospital from “multiple burns” of Corpl. E. A. Shenker. He was one of the earliest of our men to join up, a splendid soldier, and a regular and cheery correspondent.’
He was buried in the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery (Grave XI. A. 14).
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.