Ernest Bevridge Norton – actually Ernest Thomas Norton
Ernest signed up for WWI September 17th, 1915 stating he was born Aug 29, 1897, in Quebec City, and he was living at 1066 Henri Julien St. Montreal.
Ernest’s occupation at that time was a Candymaker, previously he had been in the 8th Royal Rifles. Written on the margins of his attestation page is “actual age claimed on 12-6-17 birth certificate shows date of birth 30-8-1899”.
Ernest was so excited to sign up he used his brother George’s middle name and claimed he was two years old than he was. His actual age at the time of enlistment was 16 years old. Ernie was 5’51/2”, dark complexion with blue eyes and brown hair.
Arriving in Liverpool, England on the S.S. Adriatic on April 10, 1916, and then sailed for France 12 August 16 where he joined the 73rd Bn. Royal Highlanders of Canada. It seems that once he confessed his true age they pulled him from service for a time but not for long, on October 5, 1918, Ernest was wounded in the field.
October 21, 1916, fatigue had him take a much-needed rest, rejoining his unit Dec.9,1916. Ernest was a part of the events at Vimy Ridge receiving a gunshot wound to his arm in 1917. He recovered from this injury very well and then was shot again, this time in the hand in 1918. And again he was able to continue fighting and stayed until the end of the war, sailing back to Canada on April 12, 1919, aboard the Carmania.
Ernest married Catherine Whiting in Port Huron, Michigan on the 12th of April 1926 where he was working as an electrician.
He moves back to Canada at some point and eventually ended up in Richmond, B.C. where he was worked as an elevator mechanic. At the age of 82 Ernest Thomas Norton passed away and is buried at the Victory Memorial Park in Surrey.
My Genealogy Life 