231327 Pte. Ernest John Bitterlich British Army 23rd Btn. (Welsh Pioneers) Welsh Regiment from:24 Thomas St. Swansea (d.28th Feb 1918 ) Ernest John Biterlich, known as John or Jack, was born May 1882 or 83 in Islington, Middlesex. His great Grandar was a Polish sailor. Jack was a plasterer having served a 6 year apprenticeship with his father. Aged 27 he fell in love with 19 year old Gertrude Ella Norris and married her, moving in with his in-laws in Swansea. The census of April 2nd 1911 shows "Ernest John Biterlich, plasterer/builder working for an employer, lived at 1 Thomas Street Swansea, with his wife Gertrude Ellen Biterlich, daughter of Head of Household aged 21, their son Ernest Biterlich 9 months old". They lived with her parents: Joseph Norris aged 57 who is described as an Employer, working as an Assisting Agent for an Auctioneer with his wife, Sarah a dressmaker in own account. The house had 4 rooms including the kitchen and housed 6 adults and a baby of 9 months; Jack + wife Gertie + son Ernest, Father-in-law Joseph Norris & his wife Sarah, plus Thos. J Norris, their unmarried children, 18 year old son and 23yr. old daughter Sarah Annie Norris.
Baby Ernest died in infancy. Jack & Gertrude had 3 babies that didn't survive prior to having their son, Arthur Joseph Henry Biterlich in 1913 followed by daughter Gertie in 1915 at 24 Thomas Street, Swansea.
Jack signed up for Service October 10th 1914 in Swansea, to the 14th Swansea Battalion. His Short Service Attestation Certificate (Enlistment) gives his details: his first reg. no. was 17354. Age 31 years +5 months, 5' 7.5" tall, 125 lbs, 35" chest +2" expansion. Fresh complexion Blue eyes Light brown hair. 5 tattoo marks L arm, 2 Tattoo marks right arm, mole in middle of back. Church of England. 1 wife, 1 child, Trade: Plasterer, British, No criminal record. Declared Fit for Army, he joined Swansea Battalion Welsh Regiment Oct 10th 1914. However he was discharged 101 Days later on 18/1/15: Reason: Likely to become an inefficient Soldier. Signed by C/O 14th Welsh.
Whilst back home in Swansea he fathered a daughter, Gertrude Louvain Bitterlich, and then re-Enlisted on 13/12/15. He served in France with 23rd Welsh Pioneers until on 6/4/16 he was invalided out to a London hospital. His daughter Gertie recalled that he never came home again, they rarely visited him in the hospital as it was so far away. He suffered with possibly either Shell-shock or Gas? The family myth is that he was at The Somme but I have no evidence if he was. He never recovered from his War & died in February 1918. He was awarded a badge & Silver War Medal.
His wife remarried two years later. His daughter Gertie grew up in Swansea, married a sign-writer, Stanley Broad, in St Albans and they had a daughter, Sylvia. Gertie later returned to Wales as a widow and she died in Llanarth in 2002. She has one grandson & six great-grandchildren including 2 great-grand-daughters born & bred in Ffarmers, Caio, Carmarthenshire.
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