Ernest Edward Nokes.
It would appear that his name is spelt incorrectly on the Hoxton War Memorial as Edward Noakes.
He was born on 18 December 1890 in Haggerston, the elder child of Edward Charles Nokes (1865-1948) and Amelia Nokes née Hill (1866-1967). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1891 in the Shoreditch registration district and his father was a mouldings maker sawyer. The 1891 census shows him living with his parents at 56 Loanda Street, Shoreditch.
In the 1911 census he is recorded as a silver plater residing at 70 Herbert Street, Hoxton, with his parents and brother Harold Charles Nokes (b.1897). Electoral registers for 1918 show him listed as a naval or military (absent) voter still at 70 Herbert Street
On 1 February 1919 he married Esther Elizabeth Hope (1891-1972) at St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton. The marriage register gives his occupation as a soldier and both their addresses were recorded as 70 Herbert Street, Hoxton. They had three children: twins Emily and Esther Nokes who were born in 1921 and Amelia Elizabeth Nokes (1922-2013).
Electoral registers for 1920 show his wife registered at 39 Rotherfield Street, Canonbury, Islington and the registers for 1921 show both him and his wife listed there. From 1925 to 1931 they were registered electors at 66 Wenlock Street, Hoxton, but the registers for 1933 and 1934 show not only him and his wife, but also his parents as voters residing at 70 Herbert Street, Hoxton. From 1936 to 1938 both he and his wife were registered at 34 Herbert Street, Hoxton but by 1939 the council had renamed the street and the registers show them at 34 Herbert Grove, Hoxton.
The 1939 England and Wales Register confirms that he and his wife were living at 34 Herbert Grove. His occupation was recorded as a civil servant - coin operative and medalist, Royal Mint. Electoral registers for 1945 show him, his wife and their daughter, Amelia Elizabeth Nokes at 45 Elizabeth Avenue, London, N1.
He was at 37 Ringcroft Street, Holloway, when a V2 rocket exploded at 5.15pm on 7 January 1945 at Madras Place and Palmer Place, Holloway, killing nine people. He was badly injured and died, aged 54 years, on 5 May 1945 at St Ebba's Hospital, Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey.
He is commemorated in the Civilian Ward Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey and is also shown in the London Borough of Islington's Book of Remembrance.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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