Lieutenant Colonel Ernest James COLES
Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Date of birth: 3rd October 1887
Date of death: 6th June 1970

Died aged 82
Unknown
Ernest James Coles was born at "Mayfield", Cheam in Surrey on the 3rd of October 1887 the eldest son of Ernest Henry Coles a manufacturer of Indian rubber, and Adela Caroline (nee Powell) Coles of “Arnolds” Holmwood in Surrey, later of "Burntwood", Caterham in Surrey. He was christened at St Dunstan's Church, Cheam on the 20th of November 1887.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1901 where he was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Football XI in 1899 and 1900 and a member of the Cricket XI in 1900 and 1901.

The school magazine wrote the following of his 1899 football season: - "Full back. Improved wonderfully, and turned out a very reliable kick and in another year will be a real bulwark."

Of his 1900 football season they wrote: - "Back. Plays a dogged game, but is slow, and has but one serviceable leg; has a bad trick of tackling his man close to the goal posts, forgetting the risk he runs of hampering the goal keeper, and of interfering with his view of the ball."

He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1900 when the magazine wrote: - "At times a really high class slow left hand bowler, but is easily depressed and can only bowl at home. A bat with his own style, with future possibilities. Slow and unsafe in the field."

Of his 1901 cricket season they wrote: - "A very good steady left hand bowler with a break back that often gets people L.B.W. Had to do all the work and perhaps that accounts for his utter want of success in batting."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "...goes to Marlborough. He has been an invaluable member of both Elevens, of the choir and the stage."

He went on to Marlborough College where he was in Preshute House from September 1901 to July 1906. He was Captain of the Hockey XI, a member of the Gym VIII and was appointed as a Prefect in 1906. Later in 1906 he went on to Trinity College Cambridge where he played for the College Rugby XV and received a BA in 1909. In 1910 he went to study French in France and later played hockey for England at outside left.

On the 18th of January 1915 he enlisted in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps as Private A/2732, and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on the 8th of April 1915. He was promoted to Captain on February 19th 1916 and was mentioned in despatches. He served as Chief Ordnance Officer, China Command from 1918 to the autumn of 1920 and was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel on the 2nd of November 1918, a rank he relinquished on the 20th of February 1920.

He became joint Managing Director of W. Warne and Co Ltd, rubber manufacturers of 29 Gresham Street London and of Barking, Essex.

He was married to Lillian Mary (nee Charlesworth) on the 28th of April 1914 and they had three sons, Ernest Edgar, born on the 6th of July 1915, Kenneth J., born on the 7th of January 1922, a son born on the 3rd of October 1926 and a daughter, Lillian N., born in 1917. They lived at Warley Lea, Great Warley in Essex. During the Second World War he served as an ARP Warden.

His brothers, Captain Edgar Ralph Coles, 3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards, was killed in action on the 12th of May 1915 and Major Guy Roger Coles, 155th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery, died as a prisoner of war on the 5th of September 1944.

He died at Craigwell House, Bognor Regis.
Went on to Marlborough College

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