Ernest Arthur Cadwell was born in Luton in October 1868, the son of Mary Ann & Thomas, a blacksmith from Ireland.

In the 1881 census Ernest is 13 years old & is living with his family at 36 Brunswick Street, Luton. He is working as a blacksmith's boy alongside his father & brothers Sidney, aged 22 & Albert aged 14. His sister Agnes 19, is a dressmaker.

In August 1887 aged 19 Ernest joins the 1st Dragoon Guards. He is enlisting as a Farrier. On his service record he is described as 5ft 10 1/2 inches tall, swarthy complexion with light brown hair & brown eyes. He has E.C. tattooed on his left forearm & a straight line on his right.

In 1894 he married Blanche Mary Hall in Norwich, Norfolk. Their first child Blanche, was born in 1897 in India whilst Ernest was posted there. He fought in the Northwest Frontier of India campaign. This is when the tribes along the British border attacked the British Garrisons & Indian villages. The Armies fought back, encroaching into the tribal territories. Winston Churchill wrote about this in his book The Malakand Field Force. He was awarded medals during this time, the India medal 1895 with clasps, the Punjab Frontier 1897-8 & the Tirah 1897-8.

In 1906 after 18 years of service, Ernest left the army. Elizabeth Mary is born in 1906, then Louis Alfred is born in 1908.

When war broke out he receives his call-up papers & enlists into the Royal Army Veterinary Corps as a Shoe Smith. He serves in France, Alexandria & Cairo. He also become an instructor at the School of Farriery in Romsey, Kent. During this time, he spends periods in hospital suffering from a stomach ulcer.

He survived the war but sadly died on 28th June 1919 aged 50. He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.