Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Matthews, a framework knitter, born 1861 in Oadby, Leics., and his wife Ellen Ludlow Matthews (nee Perkins, married q4 1879 in the Blaby, Leics. district), born 1860 in Oadby, Leics. Ernest William was born in q3 1889 in Oadby, Leics., his siblings were, Alfred, a schoolboy, born 1881, George, a schoolboy, born 1883, Herbert Harry, a schoolboy, born 1885 and Laura Annie, born 1887, all his siblings were born in Oadby, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Lawn Terrace, Oadby, Leics. In March 1901 Ernest was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at East Street, Oadby, Leics., together with his father, a glove trade framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Alfred, a bricklayer’s labourer, George, a glove trade framework knitter, Herbert, a shoe trade riveter, Laura, a hosiery sock trade mender, Arthur, a schoolboy, born 1892, Edgar Clarence, a schoolboy, born q3 1895, Elsie Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1897 and Hilda Caroline, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Oadby, Leics. In the 4th quarter of 1910 Ernest’s mother died, aged 50 in the Blaby, Leics. registration district. In April 1911 Ernest was a serving soldier and was residing in the family home at East Street, Oadby, Leics., together with his widower father and siblings, Edgar, a plumber, Elsie, a hosiery trade worker, Hilda, a schoolgirl and Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1903 in Oadby, Leics., also residing in the family home was his married brother Alfred, a coal miner and his wife Edith Matthews (nee Richardson, married q3 1904 in the Worksop, Notts. district), born 1883 in Whitwell, Derbys and their son Frank, born 1907 in Whitwell, Derbys.