Ernest Sheldon

Ernest Sheldon was born in Wheatley in 1873, the eldest child of Wheatley-born Frederick Sheldon, master blacksmith, and Ellen nee Holyoake. In the Parish Register of Ernest's birth the Rev. Elton stated that his second name was intended to be Frederick. In 1891 they were living at the Old Forge house on High Street. Brother of Frank Sheldon and Robert Sheldon. Blacksmith's assistant in 1891; in 1911 a cycle agent living on Church Road, and later a motor agent. He was a Special Constable in September 1914. He married Mary Ann ‘Mildred' Crozier, born in Headington. The Oxford Chronicle of 12 November 1914 reported that he had enlisted under Lord Derby's Scheme, by which a volunteer could sign on but defer the service until called upon. He was 40 years old when he was enlisted in the Army Service Corps in 1915, as Ernest Frederick Sheldon of Crown Road. His Regimental No. was 137748. In April 1917 Ernest's garden was dug (as an ‘absent soldier') and vegetable seeds were planted by Wheatley Elementary school's Gardening Class. His son remembered that Ernest had ‘served in Greece', i.e. in Salonika, the Allied base for the war against Bulgaria, which was allied to Turkey and Central Powers. See also reference to him in the Wheatley in a World at War chapter.

He lived at 94 Church Road.