Ernest Stanley Whitworth, born on 12th July 1891, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September1907, having transferred from King Edward’s Camp Hill. An only child, he lived with his father, Andrew, a commercial traveller, and his mother, Annie, at 77, Ivor Road, Sparkhill.
As a pupil of the Modern School, Ernest studied a primarily scientific, rather than classical, curriculum. He was a strong all-round performer, evidenced by his 1st place in general work and the fact that he was ranked 4th overall out of twenty-one boys in his class. He makes one appearance in the School Chronicles, coming 1st in his class in the July 1908 gymnastics competition. After leaving School, Ernest went on to study at the University of Birmingham; there he obtained both BSc (Honours in Mathematics) and MSc degrees, and also the Austin Prize which was founded in memory of a Birmingham Senior Wrangler and awarded to the best student in Mathematics for the year. In 1912, Ernest was appointed assistant lecturer in the Day Training College for Men. His obituary in the Birmingham Post notes that as well as his mathematical and scientific skills, his “musical ability [was of] much service” to the College.
In September 1914, Ernest obtained his commission as a Second Lieutenant with the 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and landed in France in July 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant later that year, but was killed on 20th December 1915. He had been between trenches in charge of a working party of 310 men and 4 other officers, when a German machine gun opened fire and killed him instantly, aged twenty-four. He is buried at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avoué and he left his estate of £307 to his widow, Winifred.