Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Watts Kidger, a joiner, born 1869 in Loughborough, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth Ann Kidger (nee Peat, married in the 1st quarter of 1891 in the Loughborough, Leics. district), born 1867 in Loughborough, Leics. Ernest Watts was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in All Saints, Loughborough, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister, Elsie Watts, born 1895 in Loughborough, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 92, Russell Street, Loughborough, Leics. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a clerk and was residing in the family home at 41, Russell Street, Loughborough, Leics., together with his father, a joiner, his mother and sister, Elsie, a machinist. Ernest enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps on the 13th January 1915 and was allocated the service number 2997. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 30½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, and his hair colour was brown, he had hazel eyes. He gave his place of birth as All Saints, Loughborough, Leics., his trade or calling as machinist and his religion as United Methodist. His record of service began when he joined as an Aircraftsman 2nd Class on the 13/1/15. Admitted to 10th Stationary Hospital, St. Omer, France with influenza, 29/4/15. Admitted to Stationary Hospital, St. Omer, France with pneumonia and seriously ill, 16/5/16. Promoted to Aircraftsman 1st Class on the 1/7/16. Transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force as an Air Mechanic I on the 1/4/18. Promoted to Acting Air Mechanic Corporal on the 1/7/18. Promoted to Air Mechanic Corporal on the 1/9/18. Discharged from Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot after suffering from Tubercular Epididymitis (Gassed). Discharged as medically unfit, 23/12/18. Ernest was allotted a pension of six shillings a week for 26 weeks and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 3134 on the 21/1/19. Ernest died in the 2nd quarter of 1919 in the Loughborough, Leics. district.