Mar 24, 1896

Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick to George and Elizabeth (nee Lagacé) Blanchard

Aug 3, 1915

Attested into the 55^th Battalion CEF in Sussex, New Brunswick

Ø  Number 445345

Ø  Next of kin given as George Blanchard, father, Bathurst, New Brunswick

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “B” Company

Aug 11, 1915

Proceeded to Valcartier, Quebec to join 55^th Battalion and begin his training

Sep 21, 1915

Sentenced to 7 days detention for an unrecorded offence

Oct 30, 1915

Embarked the SS Corsican in Montreal, Quebec

Nov 9, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the Bramshott camp

Apr 7, 1916

Transferred to the Brigade Signals Base at the 39^th Battalion in East Sandling

Jun 28, 1916

Sentenced to 4 days CB (Confined to Barracks) for being absent from afternoon parade June 26, 1916

Aug 10, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 12, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Aug 29, 1916

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax Camp near Brandhoek, Belgium

Sep 17, 1916

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private Blanchard joined the 21^st Battalion involved in fierce fighting at the sunken road east of Pozieres, France

Dec 18, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Jan 17, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Calonne, France from duty with the engineers

Feb 15, 1917

While in the front line east of Mont St. Eloi, France, the battalion came under a barrage of enemy trench mortars and Private Blanchard received a shrapnel wound to his back.  An entry in his file states he had to walk 2 miles to the aid station before being evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid.  He was then transported to the No. 30 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station).  Surgery was performed here to remove shrapnel from his back and side.

Feb 26, 1917

Transferred via the No. 24 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian General Hospital in Le Treport, France

Apr 13, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1^st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

May 27, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bearwood Park, Wokingham

Jul 21, 1917

Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship Letitia

Aug 2, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and admitted to Military Convalescent Hospital in Halifax

Aug 3, 1917

Medical exam notes

Ø  Man walks with a limp

Ø  If he walks any distance, his legs become painful

Ø  The Sacro Iliac on left side was damaged by the shrapnel wound

Ø  Has difficulty stooping

Ø  His disability is determined to be 25%

Ø  Convalescent Home treatment is recommended

Oct 1, 1917

Transferred to the Saint John, New Brunswick Armouries for treatment as an Out Patient of the Saint John Rehabilitation Centre

Jan 11, 1918

Admitted to the Saint John Rehabilitation Centre for treatment of his back wound

Jan 16, 1918

Discharged from hospital to receive treatment as an Out Patient

Feb 12, 1918

Married to 16 year old Emelda (Mildred) Boucher in Bathurst, New Brunswick

Feb 15, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge East Bathurst, New Brunswick

Following the end of the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at South Bathurst, New Brunswick

Dec 1, 1919

Attested into the CMPC (Canadian Military Police Corps) in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ø  Number 2780011

Ø  Next of kin given as John Blanchard, father, Bathurst, New Brunswick

Ø  Posted to the Special Guard

Promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal

Mar 15, 1920

Discharged from the Canadian Military Police Corps in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Following his discharge, Edward Blanchard moved to Michigan, USA.  At the outbreak of WW2, he separated from his wife and returned to Canada

Jul 31, 1940

Attested into the Canadian Active Service Force, 2^nd Depot Company, Veterans Home Guard in Cochrane, Ontario

Ø  Number B/14220

Ø  Next of kin given as Elizabeth Blanchard, mother, Kapuskasing, Ontario

o   He stated he was married, but the address of his wife is unknown

Ø  Previous occupation given as Truck Driver

o   His last employer was given as H.S. Moore, a plastering contractor in Wyandotte, Michigan, USA

Ø  Previous military experience given as 55^th Battalion, 39^th Battalion, and 21^st Battalion CEF

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Aug 1, 1940

Transferred to No. 2 “F” Company in North Bay, Ontario

Aug 15, 1940

Attached to No. 2 Depot Company in Espanola, Ontario

Jan 11, 1941

Granted 14 days leave

Mar 3, 1941

Attached to No. 2 Depot Company in Gravenhurst, Ontario

Apr 30, 1941

Admitted to the Christie Street, Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

May 15, 1941

Discharged from the Canadian Field Force in Haileybury, Ontario by reason of being Medically Unfit

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Medal 1939-45

Apr 24, 1943

Ernest Blanchard died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis while a patient of the St. Mary’s on the Lake Sanitorium, Haileybury, Ontario.  His death was a result of his active service.  He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Haileybury, Ontario with military honours.