Ernest Sharpe signature

On this day in 1916, Ernest Sharpe enlisted in Deseronto. He was born on August 14th, 1886, the son of Philip Sharpe and Sarah (née Smith) in Sidney Township, Hastings County. By 1891 the family were living in Deseronto. Ernest married Martha Ann (Annie) Skippen in Massey, Ontario, on October 25th, 1910, when he was working as a drayman (Annie’s younger sister Edith got married on the same day). Ernest’s younger brothers Alfred Nelson and Harry had already enlisted.

Ernest joined the 155th Battalion with the regimental number 636396. He was five feet six and a quarter inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he arrived in England on October 28th, 1916 on the SS Northland. In April 1917 he was transferred to the 21st Battalion, joining them in France on April 22nd. On August 16th, 1917 he was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to the scalp. He returned to duty two months later.