Born during the march quarter 1884 in the Salford
R.D. - ref: 8d/48, the son of Maria Cliff.

1891 Census - 24 Oldfield Road, Salford.  This was
the home of Maria Cliff's parents (Ernest's
grand-parents), where the family was wrongly
recorded as 'Cliffe'.   His birth name was -
Ernest Cliff - Grandson - aged: 3 - born:
Pendleton, Salford.   Also listed is - Maria Cliff
(Ernest's mother) - daughter - Unmarried - aged:
25 - occ: Assistant In Bread Shop - born: Hull,
Yorkshire.  Plus an elder brother (half-brother
??? Uncle ???) - Frank Cliff - aged: 11.   

Back in 1881, Maria Cliff was a 15 year old
Domestic Servant to Peter & Mary Nicholas and
their family at 1 Park End, Pendleton.

In 1891, William Ricketts was a 52 year old
widower Hairdresser and his two sons - Charles &
Stanley Ricketts, residing at 25 Leaf Street,
Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester.

William married Maria Cliff during the March
quarter 1899 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/997. 

1901 Census - 57 Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester.  
Ernest has now adopted the surname of Ricketts.  
Son - Unmarried - aged: 15 - occ: Errand Boy
Ironmonger's  - born: Manchester.    Head of
household - William Ricketts - Married - aged: 62
- occ: Retired Hairdresser - born: Liverpool.  
Also - Maria Ricketts - Wife - aged: 35 - occ:
Provision Shop Keeper - born: Hull, Yorkshire. 
Plus his half brother - Charles Rickets and his
younger sister - Nora.

1911 Census - 57 Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester.  
Son - Unmarried - aged: 25 - occ: Car Cleaner -
born: Pendleton Greensby.    Head of household -
Maria Ricketts - Widow - aged: 45 - occ: Managing
Provision Shop - born: Hull, Yorkshire.  Plus 2
younger siblings.

Ernest married Mabel Hill during the December
quarter 1912 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/1510.

1939 National Registration - 32 Stanley Road,
Stretford.   Ernest C. Ricketts - Married - Born:
20th February 1885 - occ: Shipping Clerk M.S.C.C. 
 Mabel Rickets - Married - Born: 23rd April 1894 -
occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.    Brenda Ricketts -
Single - born on the 24th April 1918 - occ:
Grocery Packer.    Nora Ricketts - Single - born
on the 24th December 1919 - occ: Grocery Packer.  
 At the same address under a separate family
record was three members of the Hill family and
Charles Dakin who were also killed in this
incident

CWD Report No. 96.  THere was obviously some
uncertainty about the identity of Ernest.   The
report was originally made out in the name of
Lewis Bertram Wilkinson, but this was all crossed
out and Ernest's name entered.  He was recorded as
Ernest Clifford Ricketts and died as a result of
blast and splinters at 32 Stanley Road, Old
Trafford, from where his body was recovered at
17.30 hrs on the 24th December 1940 and taken to
the Church Street Mortuary, Stretford.   His body
was released to the Council's Undertaker
Contractor - R. Pepperdine, 31 Ayres Road, Old
Trafford.   Employed as an Engineer.

Ernest appears to have incorporated his birth
surname into his middle name and extended it to
Clifford.

Killed when a land mine landed on Stanley Road,
Old Trafford.   This was the worst single incident
in terms of loss of life in the whole of Greater
Manchester during WW2.   In total, thirty three
persons were killed.

One of 17 Unidentified Bodies buried in the
Communal Grave at Stretford Cemetery.  The
uncertainty of his identity must have continued.

CWGC - of 32 Stanley Road, Old Trafford. Husband
of Mabel Ricketts.   Died at 32 Stanley Road.