William Burton Ernst
William Burton Ernst
Embedded Files
William Burton Ernst was born in Bridgewater, Nova scotia 1924 may 4th. Willam was one of 3 children he was the sole male child of his family; his family consisted of two sisters Ann Ross who was his twin and Mary Patricia William was fairly thin only weighing 135 pounds at 5,9 . Williams family was highly regarded as properouse individuals for achievements gaining respect in their reputation. Williams mother was Dorothea Ernst born in Great Britain and his father was William Gordon Ernst his family lived on 144 Broadway ave. Williams father was a lawyer and politician having a significant position within the parliament running for the house of commons succeeding in the 1926 federal election in office from 1926 to 1935 titled as the minister of fisheries responsible for regulating policies to sustain fishing sustainability as well as supervise the canadian coastline his father gained several accomplishments serving in WW1 as the 8th canadian infantry battalion holding a superior position being awarded the military cross and bar . William attended Bridgewater high between 1929-1937 almost completing his high school education attending glebe collegiate institute in 1939-1941 from 10h to 11th grade . William was immersed in several sports, engaging in tennis, hockey and skiing. William was known for his creativity and variety in his hobbies; he enjoyed many hobbies ranging from sports to photography .
William worked at a Dominion government branch ,radio branch working as a clerk before he enlisted on May 4th 1942 on the day of his 18th birthday. Willam served in the Royal Canadian air force William was a part of group 91 in the air force ranking as a flying officer he flew the Vickers Wellington X his position was the navigator responsible for keeping track of the location of where the air crafts were as well as where the pilots next destination was. Willam arrived in the United kingdom serving in squadron 20 his service number was J/36843 . William joined the military inspired by his father who bravely fought in world war 1 . J Glashan, a flying instructor, reported William’s progressing slowly his take offs were regular while his landings were poor without improvement while supervisor testing officer R.E church described William’s knowledge on air below average but alert with a high intelligence level recommending him as a navigator.
On May 24, 1944, just over two weeks after his 20th Birthday, William was sent on Navigation exercise. During the day William left Lossiemouth, Scotland which unbeknownst to anyone would be the last time he was seen alive. His last known whereabouts were in the Darlington, England area when he was lost without a trace. The most likely causes of his disappearance was a plane crash or enemy attack. There was a search sent out, but he was never found. On April 3rd, 1945 a letter was sent to his step mother informing her that he was officially presumed dead.
In 1953, a memorial was built and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth the second in Englefield Green, England that commemorates 20,450 of the commonwealth air force members who don’t have a known grave including William B. Ernst. The memorial, just 32 km from London, is called the Runnymede memorial which you can still visit today.
Primary Source Documents : https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1269649?William%20Burton%20Ernst
Works Cited
Ancestry. “William Burton Ernst.” Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.ca/search/?name=William+Burton_Ernst&birth=1924&death=1944.
Canadian Fallen. “ERNST, W B-Flying Officer.” Canadian Fallen, https://canadianfallen.ca/91565/ERNST.
CWG. “William Burton Ernst.” Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1269649/william-burton-ernst/.
“Ernst W.International BCC.” Losses Database, International Bomber Command Centre, https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/107144/.
Find A Grave. “Flying Officer William Burton Ernst.” Find A Grave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15252190/william_burton_ernst.
Government of Canada. “Flying Officer William Burton Ernst.” Veterans Canada, Government of Canada, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1269649?William%20Burton%20Ernst.
Government of Canada. “ERNST, WILLIAM.” Library and Archives, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=10723&ecopy=sww-27473-ernst-william_burton-j36843.
The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.
'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'
- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.
Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Page updated
Report abuse