Ernest Henry Bridger was born in Wick, Lyminster, Sussex, to William and Ann Bridger (nee Sanders) who had 8 children, including Ernest, of whom was born in 1878. William was a Carman and Ann had no established occupation.
In 1881, Ernest was 2 years old and living at 3 Teville Road, Worthing, with his parents, two lodgers, Ernest's father's cousin (Charles Sanders) and his older siblings William, Arthur and Bertie.
Just 10 years later, aged 13, Ernest gained an additional four siblings; Lilian, Frederick, Margaret and Laura. They were all living together at 8 Tarring Road in Conningsby Terrace, Worthing. William is still occupied as a Carman and Ann still has no occupation.
Prior to 1901, Ernest joined the Royal West Surrey Regiment to fight in the Boer War and was returned home in 1901 invalided. The same year, Ernest turned 22 and was working as a domestic coachman alongside his father and older brothers, Arthur and Bertie, who were all cabmen, although the census has been altered post-publishing and their roles have been replaced with Groom, all apart from Ernest. Historically, a Groom was someone who attended the horses, a stable boy, rather different to a Cabman who is a horse Hackney carriage driver. It is unknown why this has been altered. By now, the family were living at 4 Newcastle Terrace in South Farm Road, Worthing.
Not long after returning home, Ernest met his future wife, Alma Grover, and they married on 9th April 1902. Almost immediately, they began to expand their family and welcomed their first child, Ernest Frederick Bridger, on 28th February 1903, followed by Ronald Grover Bridger on 10th March 1906 and finally, Alma Mary Bridger on 15th March 1910.
The 1911 census puts the family at 9 Thorn Road, Worthing, where Ernest is the head of the household and has four boarders. His occupation is now a Cab proprietor and Ann appears to be a stay-at-home mother to her children owing to their ages and the blank space on her occupation census input. Just four years later, Ernest rejoins the war effort and disembarks to France on 12th June 1915. He returns home on the 24th June 1916 for just under 9 months when he then returns to France again from the 6th March 1917 until the 3rd June 197. During Ernest's time in the army, he gained the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his efforts. Interestingly, his address on his war record states he lives at 17 Thorn Road, Worthing. It may be possible that if they were renting, the rent was cheaper in the neighbouring house, hence the move.
There are no other records after this time for Ernest or his family other than the death of Alma on the 13th January 1928. She was laid to rest in Heene Cemetery four days later on the 17th January 1928 where her husband would join her 11 years later in the same plot. Their gravestone reads In loving memory of Alma the dearly loved wife of Ernest Henry Bridger called home 13th Jan 1928 aged 55 Ever in my thoughts Reunited 3rd April 1939. Ernest died at 7 Cross Street, Worthing, but lived at 36 Oxford Road, Worthing. Probate was granted to his daughter, Alma Mary Roberts (now married) to the effects of £531 7s. 6d.