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Ernest Jessop was born in Ossett in 1896, the youngest child and fourth son of eight children born between 1879 and 1897 to labourer, Sidney Jessop and his wife Emma (nee Dransfield), both of Street Side, Ossett, who married at Dewsbury All Saints Parish Church on the 17th March 1878.
In 1901 the family, including four year old Ernest, were living on Dale Street, Ossett and Sidney was working as a carter for a local factory. Sydney Jessop lost his first wife Emma, in the summer of 1902, and he remarried in late 1903.
In 1911, he was living at Field Row, Prospect Road, Ossett with his new wife, Annice (nee Rivers), and two of his sons from his first marriage, including Ernest, now aged 15 and working as a piecer for a cloth manufacturer. Sydney was living at the same address when his son Ernest died on the 4th October 1920 from wounds or an illness suffered during WW1.
Ernest Jessop’s army service record has not survived, but it is known that he enlisted at Dewsbury, and joined the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He did not embark for France before the 31st December 1915, and was posthumously awarded the British and Victory medals.
It is not known which battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers that Ernest Jessop served with. His CWGC listing suggests that he served some time at the regimental depot, which was in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Lance-Corporal Ernest Jessop, aged 24 years, son of Sidney Jessop, of 22, Prospect Rd., Ossett, died on the 4th October 1920. He is buried at grave reference 11. 18. at the Ossett (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, 1 Church Street, Ossett.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Headstone (Photograph courtesy of local historian, Joan Smith)
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