Also Served: Ernest Atkinson - Ernest ATKINSON
4, Chapel Street, Prescot 267036, Royal Air Force Ernest was born in Prescot on 26th September 1898, the second son of James and Annie Atkinson. James was a Fruit and Fish Dealer. The 1911 census listed Ernest as a Scholar, but by the time he joined the Royal Air Force on 22nd July 1918, he also recorded himself as a Fruit and Fish Dealer.
Aged 20, he joined for the Duration of War. He went to France on 17th August 1918 and was posted to 148 Squadron a few days later as an Officer's Batman.
The squadron was a night-bombing squadron equipped with FE2b's; its duties included night bombing of enemy airfields, railheads and billets, night reconnaissance, patrols to cover the approach of tanks and the machine-gunning of roads and billets.
In early 1919 he was transferred to 152 Squadron, still based in France, and then a few weeks later to 98 Squadron, again in France. He remained in France until 24th April 1919 when he returned to the UK to prepare for demobilisation
He transferred to the Class G Reserve on 27th May 1919.
Ernest was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he received in November 1921.
In the 1939 National Register, Ernest is listed as living at 6, Central Avenue, Eccleston Park. He is recorded as "Incapacitated"
Extract from the 1939 National Register
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