Royal Air Force. Born: 28th December 1919.
Story
Ernest was the youngest family member in the picture above, which also features his father Harold Samuel Backhouse (1896-1963) who was an ARP Warden during the War, and whose younger brother Frank Backhouse (1906-1981) served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and also his grandfather Thomas John Backhouse (1872-1953), and his great grandmother Emma Backhouse (née King, 1846-1837). This photograph was taken in 1928. Ernest served in Canada from November 1939, after joining the RAF in 1936. Before the War, he had been employed by Volkels of Bank Street, Castleford. On 22nd August 1940, it was reported that he had wrote home describing his interest in Boxing and swimming. On 17th January 1941, it was reported he had returned to Canada after spending his leave in Kippax, and had a pleasant journey. He was now engaged in instructional work for the R.A.F. In 1943, on another period of leave, Ernest married Lily Cockerham (1920-2002), the daughter of James William Cockerham (1894-1894) who was a prisoner of War in the First World War, and Laura Hargreaves (1892-1972) who worked in munitions at Barnbow.
Ernest and Lily had a son, Michael David Backhouse on 25th June 1945. He married Beryl Cass and passed away on 22nd December 2014. Ernest passed away in Leeds in 1997.
Kippax Roll of Honour 