Ernest William Henry Andrews
Place of birth: Walworth, London, England
Previous occupation: Messenger boy
Service: Royal Marines
Rank: Marine
Service Number: 216649
Joined Hood: 12th May 1922 (Gunner)
Left Hood: 18th July 1928 (Marine)
Biographical Information: A Londoner, Ernest William Henry Andrews was the eldest of four children born to Ernest William and Sarah Jane Andrews. His siblings were all girls. Ernest enlisted into the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA)('The Blue Marines') in September 1918, just before his 18th birthday. On 22nd August 1922, Ernest was on board when, tragically, Boy First Class Alfred George Field. (qv) was lost overboard. Ernest, himself just 21 at the time, was clearly affected by this sad event, and retained the Order of Service for Alfred's memorial service until the end of his days.
On the RMA being amalgamated with the Royal Marines Light Infantry (RMLI)('The Red Marines') on the 22nd of June 1923, Ernest was reclassified as 'Marine' rather than 'Gunner'. Ernest was serving in Hood for the duration of the Empire Cruise. of 1923-4, and hence circumnavigated the globe.
After his HMS Hood time, Ernest spent further 'big ship' time in the elderly battleship sister ships HMS Benbow and HMS Iron Duke, and subsequently in the battlecruiser HMS Repulse. He left the Corps for the first time in September 1930, having served for twelve years at that point.
In civilian life, Ernest earned his living as a postman. He married Lilian Julia Richards at Holy Trinity Church in Wimbledon on 16th September 1933. They set up home in Latimer Road Wimbledon, and had two children: Ernest Arthur (Andy) and Hilda Ann. Sadly, the marriage was very short: Lilian passed away in 1936. Ernest stayed in the Wimbledon home for the rest of his life. Ernest married for a second time on 4th January 1941, at St Winefride Church in Wimbledon, to Annie Marian Barnett. He re-entered the Royal Marines early in World War II, but served only in shore establishments. He remained in service until the end of that war, being discharged for the second and last time on 25 October 1945. He was in 'Class A' for conduct and was aged 45.
Ernest passed away on 10th December 1974.
Additional Photos |
 Ernest with his comrades in front of a 4-inch QF (quick firing) Mk V anti-aircraft gun - for which they were clearly responsible. Ernest is standing second from the left, and the cap tally of the 'two badge' able seaman next to him confirms that the ship is HMS Hood. |
 Ernest (left) and a Royal Marine comrade. The identity of the three ladies is not known. |
 Ernest (right) with another Royal Marine comrade whose name, like those of the two ladies, is unknown. |
No known memorials
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Mr Peter Trigg, grandson, photos and information December 2022.