Regimental number: 880014 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1236 – 18, Item: 73587, PDF: B1236 – S018. Date of Birth 28-29/09/1894 at Bothwell, ON. Son of Alfred and Alice Louise Buckenham of Bothwell who was in the watch & jewelry business in Bothwell. A single clerk living in Bothwell, he was also at some time, living in Chatham, ON. at 222 Richmond St. Chatham. Member of 26^th Regt. for two years.

 

Attestation: 7/02/1916 at Chatham, ON. to  186^th Bn. Ernest was reported being on leave to visit his parents in Bothwell in June 1916. BT 1/06/16.

He was also home for Dominion Day 1916. BT6/07/16.   Celebrations must have been important to Ernest as he along with E. Crompton, H. McColl, Fred Clarke and J. McRoberts attended a New Years celebration in Chatham ringing in 1917.

He embarked 28/03/17 at Halifax, NS., aboard the S.S. Lapland, arriving in England 7/04/17 and TOS by the 4^th Cdn. Reserve Battalion at Bramshot.  He was posted to the 1^st Batt. CEF 10/12/17 and transferred ‘over seas’ to France 10/12/17 joining the 1^st Batt. 30/12/17 in the field. He had assigned $20/mth to be sent to his mother. The only issue he had medically was a bought of Chicken Pox while in service.

He was process to England 28/12/18 TOS of the 1^st Batt. 1/04/1919. Ernest was processed to Canada on 14/04/19, departing from Southampton 16/04/14 aboard the .S. Olympic arriving Canada 18/04/19 and was discharged from the Army 24/04/1919 

After the war Ernest he returned to Chatham but found it too quiet. Detroit was more to his liking and took up truck driving there. While in Detroit he went to night school an earned a certificate in the Jewellery and watch

 

making.

On New Years Eve 1921 he married and a daughter arrived in 1922 and twin boys in 1932. He moved across the river to Windsor working for a jewellery company. He would go on to opening his own business on Ouelette St. and was named among the top retail men in Windsor 

This was also the time of of prohibition and a depression. Lots of rum was running on the Detroit River and this is how Ernest came into contact with gangsters because he was buying and selling gold and jewelry.

 

credit: Onne de Boer

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

Nominal Roll of 186th Bn. (28/03/1917), Chatham Daily News (22-04-1919), Chatham Daily News (25-04-1919), Victoria Ave. United Church - Roll of Honour, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1236 - 18, BT (4/01/17), BT 4/01/17.  Found on Nominal Roll of 186th Bn. 28/03/1917 ,, Onne de Boar email (21/11/16.)

Birthplace

28/09/1894 at Bothwell, ON

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