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Name: SCHIFF, Ernest Frederick Wilton 'Tony'
Nee: brother of Sydney Schiff
Birth Date: 30 Aug 1870 Paddington
Death Date: 24 May 1919 Carbis Bay, Cornwall (after a fight)
Nationality: British
First Date: 1892
Profession: IBEA Co. General Africa Staff - appointed 30th April 1892
Married: In New Zealand 1897 Emma Clementine Borlase b. 17 Nov 1871 Wanganui, d. 5 Nov 1959 New Forest, Hants.
Children: Alfred Sydney Borlase (27 Nov 1897, killed in action 9 Apr 1917 Arras); Esme Borlase (7 Jan 1900 Hove-1980)
Book Reference: EAHB 1905, North, EAHB 1906, Eton, Matson Bio, EAHB 1904
War Service: Royal Sussex Regt. 1915-25
School: Eton
General Information:
Eton - Ernest Fred. Wilton Schiff - completed his education in Germany and France; now in Australia (1893)
North - Company appt. to asst F.G. Hall to organise & carry out animal transport; arr. Mombasa 9/6/1892; visiting Zanzibar Aug 1892; dep. Mombasa with F.G. Hall on way to Kikuyu Oct. 1892, sent back to coast from Ndi, ill; invalided home by Nov 1892; "lazy swine" (Hall, RH)
Web - Sydney Schiff's book 'Tony' - The book is a biography of a very interesting personality. He was undoubtedly a scandalous rogue; expelled from Eton (or whichever public school he did actually attend), a notorious womaniser - in addition to his long-term mistress Seline Moxon (Trixie in the novel) he had many other liaisons, including the internationally famous French courtesan Liane de Pougy.
Hull Daily Mail - 9 June 1919 - The story of a father's fight in defence of his daughter's honour was related at Bodmin Assizes on Saturday when Albert John Nicholls, a miner, was declared not guilty of the manslaughter of Captain Ernest Frederick Wilton Schiff, formerly of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Nicholls was, therefore, acquitted. A policeman gave Nicholls certain information as to Schiff's relations with Miss Nicholls. The father then met the captain on a lonely part of the coast near Carbis Bay, and there the two men fought, as a result of which the officer died a few days later.
It was stated in evidence that Schiff had been violently turned out of the Tinner's Arms, Zennor, as a result of his behaviour towards Nicholls' 17-year-old daughter who was in domestic service at the hotel. Schiff then went to Carbis Bay and it was found that he was endeavouring to get Miss Nicholls to go to London with him.
Counsel for the defence described Schiff as "one of the worst of profligates from the West End of London".