First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield

Ernest Edward JACOB (1893–1916)

Ernest Edward Jacob (or Jacobs) was born in Headington in 1890, the son of Charles Jacob (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 11 June 1860) and Annie Shorter (born in Oxford in 1865, registered third quarter).

His parents were married in the Oxford registration district in the second quarter of 1888 and had eight children:

• Charles Henry Jacob (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 April 1889)
• Alfred George Jacob (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 September 1890)
• Ernest Edward Jacob (born in New Headington on 22 January 1893 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 2 April 1893)
• Annie Elizabeth Jacob, known as Elizabeth (born in New High Street on 13 December 1896 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 21 February 1897)
• Florence Edith Frances Jacob (born in Perrin Street on 15 March 1899 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 14 May 1899)
• Dorothy May Jacob (born in New High Street and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 18 August 1901)
• Albert Gilham Jacob, known as Bertie (born in Highfield on 30 April 1903 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 July 1903)
• Beatrice Alice Maud Jacob (born in Highfield on 27 July 1905 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 3 December 1905).

At the time of the 1881 census Ernest’s father, Charles Jacob (21) was a mason’s labourer, living with his family at Shotover Hill Place in Headington Quarry; and his future wife Annie Shorter (15) was a domestic servant, living with her parents (a carter and a laundress) at 59 Observatory Street in north Oxford.

Following their marriage, Ernest’s parents first lived in Quarry High Street (then called Main Road), and they can be seen there at the time of the 1891 census with their first two children.

In about 1892 they moved to New Headington, and at first lived in Perrin Street. By the time of the 1901 census they had moved to the present 28 New High Street and now had five children: Charlie (12), Alfred (10), Ernest (8), Elizabeth (4), and Florence (2).

By the beginning of 1903 census the family had moved to Lime Walk (which had been taken into All Saints’ parish in 1910).

According to his obituary in the Oxford Chronicle, in his mid-teens Ernest Jacob was employed by the Oxfordshire Steam Plough Co. Ltd.; but by the time of the 1911 census, when he was 18, he had joined the army as a career soldier, and spent census night at Cowley Barracks.

The 1911 census shows Ernest’s parents living at “Arthers Cottage” in Lime Walk (now No. 85) with Alfred (20) who was working on his own account at home as a coal dealer, and their five youngest children, who were all at school: Lizzie (14), Florence (12), Dorothy (10), Bertie (8), and Beatrice (6). The census form was filled in by Mrs Jacobs, suggesting that her husband could not read and write. Charles (22) is missing from the 1911 census, and he too may have joined the army.

In the First World War Ernest Edward Jacob served as a Sapper, first in the 178th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, then with the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 3285), and finally with the Corps of Royal Engineers (Service No. 148462). He was awarded special leave for gallantry in the field, but twelve days after he returned to France on 7 August 1916, he was killed in action by a shell at the Somme twelve days later on 19 August at the age of 24.

He was buried at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval (Sp. Mem. 32), and is listed on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.

His two older brothers Charles and Alfred Jacob continued to serve in the army after his death.

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Postscript

Ernest’s parents

• Mrs Annie Jacob died at the age of 70 in the first quarter of 1935 (Oxford district).
• Charles Jacob died at the age of 75 in the fourth quarter of 1935 (Oxford district).

Ernest’s siblings

• Annie E. Jacob (born 1896) married Cyril G. Wiggins in the Headington registration district in the second quarter of 1921.
• Florence E. F. Jacob (born 1899) married Sidney G. Middleton in the Headington registration district in the fourth quarter of 1928.
• Beatrice A. M. Jacob (born 1905) married Albert T. Wood in the Headington registration district in the fourth quarter of 1945.