Ernest Russell Brant signature

Ernest Russell Brant signed up in Cobourg on this day in 1916. He was born in Tyendinaga on March 15th, 1891, the son of Josiah Brant and Elizabeth (née Moses), who were both Mohawks. His eldest brother, Charles Arthur Brant had enlisted in Saskatchewan in March.

Ernest joined the 139th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the regimental number 815004. He was five feet eight inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His service record shows that he was transferred to the 28th Battalion in January 1917 and served in France with that unit.

Brant received a gunshot wound to the back of his head on August 21st, 1917 at the Battle of Hill 70 and was sent to England to recover. After it had healed, he had an operation on his eye to remove a growth (pterygium). He rejoined the 28th Battalion in France in April 1918.