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Aug 12, 1897
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Born in Brockville, Ontario to Henry and Laura
Hanna (nee Beckinsale) Billings
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Dec 1, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59064 (temporary number 1135)
Ø Next of kin given as Mr. H. Billings, father, 334 Brock St.,
Brockville, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Shoemaker
o Later recorded as Sadler
Ø Previous military experience given as 1 year in the 41st
Regiment, Canadian Militia, in Brockville, Ontario
Ø Assigned to the Depot Company
The battalion trained in the Kingston area
throughout the winter of 1914-15
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Apr 28, 1915
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Ernest’s brother, James, was killed in
action serving with the 2nd Battalion CEF and Ernest vowed to avenge his death.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent, to continue training
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Aug 2, 1915
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Posted to “A” Company from the Depot
Company
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the
battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Oct 3, 1915
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Appendicitis.
This was then changed to read Enteritis
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Nov 22, 1915
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Discharged to duty from the CFA
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Mar 16, 1916
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Attached to the 4th Canadian Infantry
Brigade and employed as a Batman to Padre WE Kidd, Chaplain of the 21st
Battalion. Both he and Padre Kidd remained
attached to the battalion for duty.
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Oct 22, 1916
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Proceeded on the Bombing Course
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Nov 1, 1916
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Rejoined the battalion from the Bombing Course
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Dec 1, 1916
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
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Dec 22, 1916
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Granted 10 days leave
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Jan 3, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion from leave
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Dec 6, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Dec 23, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Aug 1, 1918
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While marching to the training area, he turned
his ankle on a stone and was admitted to the No. 5 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with an
accidental fracture of his right leg. It was
later determined to only be a severe sprain of the right ankle. This was then changed to read Potts Fracture.
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Aug 6, 1918
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Transferred by ambulance train to No. 5 General
Hospital
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Aug 8, 1918
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
Gloucester Castle
On arrival in England he was admitted to the No.
4 Canadian General Hospital in Basingstoke.
Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental
Depot) while in hospital
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Sep 9, 1918
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Transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian
Red Cross Hospital, Bexhill
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Sep 20, 1918
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Discharged from hospital and posted to the 6th
Reserve Battalion in Seaford, and given 10 days sick leave
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Oct 30, 1918
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Admitted to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red
Cross Hospital, Bexhill with an infected abscess in the right ankle. This was a complication from his original injury.
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Jan 28, 1919
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Discharged to duty
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Feb 13, 1919
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Posted to MD Wing #3, Kinmel Park, Rhyl, pending
return to Canada
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Feb 22, 1919
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Embarked the SS Belgic in Liverpool
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Feb 25. 1919
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Admitted to the ship’s infirmary diagnosed
with Sea Sickness
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Mar 1, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and admitted
to hospital
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Mar 6, 1919
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Transferred to the DD #6 Casualty Company
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Mar 7, 1919
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Discharged from hospital and transferred to the
#3 District Depot, Kingston, Ontario
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Mar 26, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 91080
Ø Proposed residence on discharge 38 Alma St., Kingston, Ontario
Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War
Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 1237 Wellington St., Ottawa, Ontario
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Jun 24, 1919
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Married to Marie (Melissa) Saborin in
Brockville, Ontario
Occupation listed as Brakeman with the GTR (Grand
Trunk Railway)
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