He was born in 1893 in Bedford, Leigh in lancashire. The 1901 census places the family at 28 Lloyd Street, Leigh where the household consisted of Thomas Brisco 33 (born Liverpool), his wife Alice 31 (born in Wrexham) and children Esther 10, Ernest 7, Thomas 5, Richard 4 and Rebecca 2.

The census of 1911 records the family living at Pentre, Mold. Thomas Briscoe was not present, neither was Alice Brisco. The family was headed up on this census by Mary Ellen Briscoe who was  41 years old  and had been married for 21 years. She had given birth to ten children, one of whom had died. Listed in the household were Ernest Edward who was 17 and a Colliery Labourer below ground. Thomas Briscoe was 15 and Richard 14. they both worked as Colliery labourers above ground. Rebecca was 12, Elizabeth Constance 9 and Frederick was 3. All the children had been born in Leigh, Lancashire apart from the youngest, Frederick who had been born in Mold.

These family discrepancies on the two census returns, I have been unable to explain so far.

Ernest enlisted at the age of 22. He Attested at St Helens on  the 7th June 1915. His address at that time was 36 Walkers Lane, St Helens. He was appointed to the 17th Bn of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He joined the Bn  in Llandudno on the 8th June 1915.   His next of kin recorded in his War Records was his father Thomas Brisco of Milford Street, Mold. His medal index card lists his three medals and also tells us that his first theatre of war was France and he entered it on the 5th December 1915. He died of wounds on the 11th October 1917.

The Army records include internal army communications confirming that any personal effects and medals should be sent to Ernest’s father, Thomas Briscoe at Milford Street, Mold.

His records contain a fascinating correspondence on behalf of his family in Mold and the military authorities regarding what was happening to Ernest in 1916. There seems to have been some confusion about his whereabouts and his condition. We reproduce this correspondence below although the condition of the documents is poor it is interesting and worth struggling with. Just one small example of the confusion and chaos the war and how it affected families at home.

The Register of Soldiers’ effects in which the Army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Ernest. His Father received two payments which totalled £17..5sh ..9d