6967044 Private Ernest John Thomas BOTTOMLEY was born on the 4th of December 1917 to parents Ernest Joseph Bottomley and Rose Lydia Bottomley (née Plumb). He was baptised on the 6th of January 1918 at Saint Anne, Limehouse: Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, London. The home address given at the time of his baptism was 12 Pelling Street, Limehouse, London.

In 1921 Ernest, his parents and 3 other siblings were living at number 22 Pelling Street, Limehouse, London. Ernest married Harriet Rosina Crawley in 1939 and were listed as living at 22 Pelling Street, Limehouse, London, the same address as he is listed as living in 1921 with his parents.

Ernest the 11^th Parachute Battalion and fought at the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

Following his discharge from the Army Air Corps on 5^th of January 1946 Ernest returned home to live with Harriet. At the time of being awarded his medal on 27^th September 1949, the couple was living at 650 Leyton High Road, Leyton, London.

Sometime in the years following the war, Ernest and Harriet moved from Leyton and settled in a new home in Tower Hamlets. In 1959 and 1961 Ernest and Harriet are listed on the Electoral Registers as living at 115 Hilary House, Teviot Street, Tower Hamlets. Ernest and Harriet were parents to 4 children.

Ernest remained in Tower Hamlets until he died in 1991 aged 74. He was survived by Harriet until 2005. She had also remained living in the Tower Hamlets district of London.

We are still researching the life of Private Bottomley. If you are a relative or have any information about him, please contact us.