(William) Ernest Colman was born on the 20th July 1888 in Carleton Rode to William Bowles Colman, farmer, and his wife Caroline Selina Bryant (born in Kenninghall). He had three sisters, Evelyn Mary, Doris May and Ruth Bryant; the family lived at Kendal Lodge.
Ernest was educated at a school in Bracondale, Norwich and in 1911 he was working as a bank clerk. He emigrated to Canada sometime around 1913. We know from his attestation papers that he joined up on the 10th February 1916 in Regina, Saskatchewan. His occupation is recorded as Deputy Sheriff of Kerrobert in the province, an area which had seen many British and German people buying land as the Canadian Pacific Railway built a line through the district; a transcontinental railroad connecting the east and west coasts of Canada, and hugely important to the economic and social development of the country. Several photos of the developing town that Ernest would have known have been posted on the net – such as the opening of the first department store and there are some that he would never see. Click here to view images of Kerrobert, and here to see more of the Peace Celebrations.
Ernest enlists in the 19th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). His service records state that he is an acting corporal at the Signal Base. Ernest’s family were later told that he was hit by a shell whilst at the top of a pole repairing telegraph wires. He was killed during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) on the 10th November 1917. His body was never recovered.
He is remembered on the Menin Gate. The cut-off date for names to be added to the Menin Gate was the 15th August 1917. After that time, men whose bodies were never found were remembered on the memorial walls at the Tyne Cot Cemetery nearby. However, the only exception were Canadian soldiers which explains why Ernest is remembered here.
There was a memorial service for Ernest held on the afternoon of Sunday, December 16th, 1917, in Carleton Rode Church.
Ernest is also remembered on the Saskatchewan War Memorial in Regina.
Ernest’s father, William Bowles Colman, was a prominent local landowner, a Justice of the Peace and governor of Carleton Rode School. He employed Ambrose Leverett and his father, Fred, who as his steward, led the horses at William’s funeral held in Carleton Rode in July 1924, with many local families in attendance. No doubt many would have worked for him over the years.