Ernest “Ernie” Russell was born on September 12, 1919, the son of James Ernest Russell (born in Providence, Rhode Island) and Annie May (nee Benstead, born in Deep St. Nicholas, England) Russell, of 240 Essex Street, Sarnia. Ernest had seven sisters and two brothers. His sisters included Marion Marguerite (born 1907); Grace Adeline (born 1909); Agness Jean (born 1910); Lillian Loreen (born 1913); Helen (born 1915); and Anna (born 1920). At the time of Ernest’s death, many of his sisters were married and residing in Sarnia, and were now named: Mrs. Joseph Simmons, Mrs. Ivan Wise, Mrs. Frederick Gray, Mrs. Maurice Edginton, Mrs. Orville Whitsitt, Miss Anna Russell, and Mrs. Robert Doyon who lived in Collingwood. His brothers were Joseph William (born 1906) and James (born October 1917).
Brother James Russell enlisted in Sarnia in September of 1939, three days after the outbreak of war with the 26th Battery. James would marry Kathleen Russell (nee Pascoe, of Camlachie) who would serve as a WREN stationed at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. James would go overseas in September of 1940. At the time of Ernest’s death, James was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Artillery, 26th Battery in France. He was wounded once and also served in Germany. He would return to Sarnia on furlough in May of 1945 after five years of overseas service.
Raised and educated in Sarnia, Ernest attended Central United Church and after leaving school, he went to Kirkland Lake where he worked for two years in the plumbing trade. Ernest was well known in local rugby and bowling league circles in Sarnia, as he played City League rugby and was one of the best bowlers that the city had ever produced. Prior to enlisting, he was assistant manager of the National Bowling Alley and was employed by Electric Auto-Lite Limited, as a machine operator. Single at the time, Ernest enlisted in the Canadian Army in London, Ontario in June 1941. He became a member of the 62nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. Ernest went overseas in July of 1942 and trained in England for close to two years. While training in England, he won the tabloid sports championship medal in 1943. Ernest would arrive in France in June of 1944.
Only three months after arriving in France and just five days before his birthday, on September 7, 1944, Gunner Ernest Russell, as part of the 8th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, would lose his life during fighting, on the border of France and Holland. In mid-September of 1944 parents James and Annie Russell in Sarnia would receive a telegram informing them that their son, Gunner Ernest Frederick Russell was reported killed in action in France on September 7. On that same day, they would receive another telegram informing them that their son, Sgt. James Russell was wounded August 23 while in France with the artillery unit.
Ernest Russell would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (France). Their twenty-four year old son Ernest Russell is buried Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, Pas de Calais, France, Grave 4.A.11. On Ernest Russell’s headstone are inscribed the words, Asleep in Jesus.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, N, S, 2C, 2D