Trafford

Born during the march quarter 1884 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8d/48, the
son of Maria Cliff.

1891 Census - 24 Oldfield Road, Salford.  This was the home of Maria
Cliff's parents (Ernest's grand-parents), where the family was wrongly
recorded as 'Cliffe'.   His birth name was - Ernest Cliff - Grandson -
aged: 3 - born: Pendleton, Salford.   Also listed is - Maria Cliff
(Ernest's mother) - daughter - Unmarried - aged: 25 - occ: Assistant In
Bread Shop - born: Hull, Yorkshire.  Plus an elder brother (half-brother
??? Uncle ???) - Frank Cliff - aged: 11.   

Back in 1881, Maria Cliff was a 15 year old Domestic Servant to Peter &
Mary Nicholas and their family at 1 Park End, Pendleton.

In 1891, William Ricketts was a 52 year old widower Hairdresser and his two
sons - Charles & Stanley Ricketts, residing at 25 Leaf Street, Chorlton
Upon Medlock, Manchester.

William married Maria Cliff during the March quarter 1899 in the Chorlton
R.D. - ref: 8c/997. 

1901 Census - 57 Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester.   Ernest has now adopted
the surname of Ricketts.   Son - Unmarried - aged: 15 - occ: Errand Boy
Ironmonger's  - born: Manchester.    Head of household - William Ricketts -
Married - aged: 62 - occ: Retired Hairdresser - born: Liverpool.   Also -
Maria Ricketts - Wife - aged: 35 - occ: Provision Shop Keeper - born: Hull,
Yorkshire.  Plus his half brother - Charles Rickets and his younger sister
- Nora.

1911 Census - 57 Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester.   Son - Unmarried - aged:
25 - occ: Car Cleaner - born: Pendleton Greensby.    Head of household -
Maria Ricketts - Widow - aged: 45 - occ: Managing Provision Shop - born:
Hull, Yorkshire.  Plus 2 younger siblings.

Ernest married Mabel Hill during the December quarter 1912 in the Chorlton
R.D. - ref: 8c/1510.

1939 National Registration - 32 Stanley Road, Stretford.   Ernest C.
Ricketts - Married - Born: 20th February 1885 - occ: Shipping Clerk
M.S.C.C.   Mabel Rickets - Married - Born: 23rd April 1894 - occ: Unpaid
Domestic Duties.    Brenda Ricketts - Single - born on the 24th April 1918
- occ: Grocery Packer.    Nora Ricketts - Single - born on the 24th
December 1919 - occ: Grocery Packer.    At the same address under a
separate family record was three members of the Hill family and Charles
Dakin who were also killed in this incident

CWD Report No. 96.  THere was obviously some uncertainty about the identity
of Ernest.   The report was originally made out in the name of Lewis
Bertram Wilkinson, but this was all crossed out and Ernest's name entered. 
He was recorded as Ernest Clifford Ricketts and died as a result of blast
and splinters at 32 Stanley Road, Old Trafford, from where his body was
recovered at 17.30 hrs on the 24th December 1940 and taken to the Church
Street Mortuary, Stretford.   His body was released to the Council's
Undertaker Contractor - R. Pepperdine, 31 Ayres Road, Old Trafford.  
Employed as an Engineer.

Ernest appears to have incorporated his birth surname into his middle name
and extended it to Clifford.

Killed when a land mine landed on Stanley Road, Old Trafford.   This was
the worst single incident in terms of loss of life in the whole of Greater
Manchester during WW2.   In total, thirty three persons were killed.

One of 17 Unidentified Bodies buried in the Communal Grave at Stretford
Cemetery.  The uncertainty of his identity must have continued.

CWGC - of 32 Stanley Road, Old Trafford. Husband of Mabel Ricketts.   Died
at 32 Stanley Road.