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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 30 Dec 1950
Page 6 Column 5
Attended Czar's Coronation
Death of Col. PEMBERTON
Owner of Pyrland Hall, Taunton
Colonel Ernest St. Clair PEMBERTON, late R.E., died at his home, Pyrland Hall, Taunton, on Christmas Eve, in his 94th year.
Col. PEMBERTON was the last survivor of the 14 children of Mr. Charles PEMBERTON, of Cleveland-terrace, London, and Hove, Brighton. He entered the Army about 1877 and had a brilliant career. When a young man he passed first out of Woolwich as a R.E. officer. He was a good linguist, and became a Russian interpreter for the Army, making some remarkable journeys in Russia and Siberia. He saw active service in Egypt during the bombardment of Alexandria and held various appointments in India. He also served in Africa after the Boer War. He had travelled all over the world, and the last of his twelve visits to Russia was made when he was about 80.
ATTENDED CZAR'S CORONATION.
He attended the coronation of the late Czar of Russia as a representative of the British Government.
He retired from the Army in 1911 at the age of 54, but returned in 1914 and ran an officers' training school at Bury St. Edmunds for the duration of the war.
He was very proud to have been associated with Lord Bath in organising the Somerset County War Memorial in Wells Cathedral.
Despite his great age, Col. PEMBERTON was a familiar sprightly and upright figure in the streets of Taunton until his illness. He was a native of Norfolk, where he lived before coming to Pyrland Hall in 1911.
Since the war he had offered his mansion home to the National Trust, but certain conditions were attached which made the offer unacceptable.
SCHOOL FOR NURSES
During the war the main part of Pyrland Hall was used by the Army for important administrative purposes. Hundreds of officers were stationed there throughout the war and some vital operations were planned within its walls. Since the war the Hall has become a nurses' hostel and training centre. Col. PEMBERTON, as the owner, has, however, always continued to live in part of the house.
His wife, an Australian, Miss Annie CATTO, died in 1929 and as a memorial he restored the bells of Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Church. It is understood that he has now left to the Diocesan Authorities a sum of money which will ensure sufficient income to maintain his wife's and his own graves.
There is no family.
Col. PEMBERTON had been a magistrate since the spring of 1918, being a member of the Taunton County Bench, but he had not sat for some years.
FUNERAL AT CHEDDON FITZPAINE
The funeral service was held in Cheddon Fitzpaine Church on Thursday, conducted by the Rector (the Rev. C. J. PRING). Mr. S. E. SAMPSON was at the organ. Burial followed in the churchyard.
Family mourners were:- Mr. Tom PEMBERTON (nephew), Mr. Mordaunt PEMBERTON (nephew), Mrs. Claud BARTON (niece) and Mr. BARTON, Mrs. Gurdon KEMBALL (niece), Mrs. Geikie COBB (niece), Mr. R. DUPOIX (nephew) and Mrs. DUPOIX, Mrs. Haldane PORTER (great-niece).
Among the general mourners were: Lieut.-Col. and Mrs. H. A. SAWYER, Col. C. D. G. LYON, Col. V. B. THURSTON (also representing Col. Guy LIDDELL), Mr. and Mrs. E. HAMILTON JONES, Mrs. C. A. Guy TURNER (also representing Mr. Guy TURNER), Mr. C. BRADBURY (also representing the Hon. Mrs. PORTMAN), Mr. and Mrs. A. C. MOLE, Mr. Horace R. MOLE (also representing Taunton School Council), Mr. A. W. PARKER, Mr. H. C. .MUSGRAVE, Mr. D. G. TRIGGOL, Mr. R. R. MORRIS (representing Messrs. Morris, Sons & Peard), Mr. and Mrs. R. F. BOWLES, Miss MASKREY, Miss TOTTERDELL, Mr. Ben HECTOR, Mr. CHIPLING.
Funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Hatcher & Son.