Ernest enlisted with the Canadian Infantry under the name of John Gray, naming Arthur Tyrrell as his Step-father. Following initial training, he embarked England in the Summer of 1916 and eventually joined his unit at Roclincourt, near Arras, France on 24 March 1917.

On 6 April the Battalion was in the front line, the War Diary records, “10.35am. A/Corporal J.Gray and a 10 men made a daylight reconnaissance on the Enemy’s Wire and front line, bringing back valuable information concerning same.”

At 5.30am on 9 April the Battalion successfully attacked German positions, capturing machine guns and more than 100 prisoners. Ernest was shot in the abdomen. He was transferred to No22 Casualty Clearing Station at Bruay where he died the next day.

In all the Battalion lost 7 officers and 90 men in the attack.

Robin Marriott