Born 27/05/1919 at St. Joachim, Kent Co., ON. Son of Ouila and Alexena (Sauve) Vermette and Philip Sauve, living on Elm St., Tilbury, Ontario. A brother Eugene, sisters Alice, Florence and Margaret of Amhurstburg, ON. Ernest was raised and educated in the St. Joachim and Tilbury area. Prior to enlistment he worked as a farm hand. 

Ernest enlisted in Windsor in July 1940, receiving most of his training in Newfoundland, going overseas in September of 1941. He returned to Canada in February of 1944 and returned overseas in June of that year.  He was first wounded 2 August, 1944 in France, recovered he rejoined his unit.  The CDN Aug.44(P), reported that Ernest was overseas with the Canadian Army.   He was wounded the second time 5 January, 1945 in Holland which proved to be fatal.  A second telegram received by his mother said her son was in “serious condition” On the last day of February she received the telegram that her son’s wound had proved fatal. CDN 1/03/45

Age: 25, DOW – Date of Death: 24/02/1945, in Belgium. Service No: A/22809

A memorial service was held at the St. Joachim Roman Catholic Church 10 March, 1945. Windsor Daily Star 3/03/45

CITATION

MILITARY MEDAL (Posthumous)

Private Ernest Joseph Auguste VERMETTE. A22809.

“On the night of Feb. 4, 1945 the Royal Canadian Regiment of Canada provided protection for a party of engineers who were lifting mines preparatory to the attack on the Reichwald Forest and Siegfried Line. Pte. Vermette was one of the men assigned to this task.

To afford the mine-lifting party adequate protection the men had to position themselves dangerously close to the enemy lines.

They encountered and enemy patrol which immediately opened fire with machine guns, rifles and grenades. Two engineers Pte. Vermette and two other members were wounded, Pte. Vermette continued to fire his Bren gun although suffering intense pain from a severe wound in his stomach. He successfully dispersed the enemy allowing his wounded comrades to crawl to safety. He remained in his position until assured that the wounded were safe before allowing stretcher bearers to carry him to the regimental aid post.”

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards	Military Medal
Sources	Found in “The Tilbury Story 1887 -1987”, Rita Lobzun Collection, CDN 12/05/45, IOSD, Windsor Daily Star 3/03/45 (P)
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 9. E. 3. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY.

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