Ernest Bultitude

A Civilian, Ernest died on 21st of August 1940 aged 68. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft on 26 November 1871, a son of William and Martha Bultitude. In 1881 his family lived at 51 Tonning Street, and this was still their home in 1891. As a young man Ernest began working as a fisherman and in 1897 he was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper.  

On 26 December 1898 Ernest married Florence Louisa Outlaw at Saint Margaret’s Church. Ernest was a smacksman living at 78 Wollaston Road and Florence lived at 38 Mariners Street. In 1901 they lived at 77 Wollaston Road, and Ernest was a fisherman, and by 1911 they were living at The Wounded Heart, Saint Peter’s Street, and Ernest was the licensee. By 1915 their home was at 15 Winnipeg Road. 

On 7 April 1915 Ernest joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Temporary Skipper, number WSA 1372. From 28 April 1915 he served with the trawler Viking II, and in late 1917 he joined the Golden Spur. Ernest was demobilised on 22 August 1919.

By 1920 Ernest, Florence, and family, were living at 73 London Road South. In 1921 Ernest was the Skipper of the trawler Bona Fide, LT 778. In 1939 Ernest was still a fisherman.  

On 21 August 1940 German aircraft dropped twelve high explosive bombs in the vicinity of Harvey, Wilson and Osborne Shipwrights and Jewson’s Timber Yard at Horn Hill. Ernest was killed at the Harvey, Wilson and Osborne air raid shelter. In that raid six people, including Ernest, were killed and seven injured. 

South Quay shipyard. Two bombs from a Dornier 17Z one either end of a shelter killed 7 people and seriously injured several others. 21 Aug 1940 CREDIT: Bob Collis