Ernest Green (1889-1965)
Sunderland man served with Canadian Army Medical Corps in France
Ernest arrived in Canada on board the SS Virginian on 31 May 1912 making for London, Ontario where his older brother, John, had already found work. Two years later, he married local girl Marion Devlin.
Enlisting in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in London, Ontario on 6 October 1915, Ernest was posted to the Canadian Army Medical Corps as Private 528552, leaving behind his wife and young son. He arrived back in Liverpool on 29 August 1916. Posted to the camp at Shorncliffe, Kent, he was made sergeant on arrival and posted to the Barracks hospital for two months for instruction in medical knowledge. Posted then to No. 10 Stationary Hospital at firstly at Seaford, then at Eastbourne, he became acting staff sergeant and when the unit moved to France in December 1917, he moved with them, and was confirmed in the rank of staff sergeant in February 1918.
No. 10 Stationary Hospital was based in Calais and was given a site by the Canal du Marck. They had to install drainage, walkways and power, reinforcing patient areas and building bomb shelters before it was fit to receive patients. In some cases, the canal was used to transport the wounded. The unit did not leave France until 16 April 1919, and whilst in Calais, had admitted 16,712 patients. Only three other hospitals in France had taken so many.
After his return to England, Ernest himself became a patient and was admitted to hospital in Eastbourne, firstly with influenza, which in turn became pneumonia and pleurisy. Unable to return with his colleagues to Canada, he was not demobilised until 20 November 1919 in his hometown of London, Ontario.
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 12-Dec-1889
Death date: 8-Jan-1965
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 33 Lock Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland (1891 census)
15 Mortimer Street, Sunderland (1901 census)
12 Westbury Street, Sunderland (1911 census)
18 Rosewood Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada (enlistment papers / 1921 Canadian census)
Religion: Methodist
Employment: House painter (1911 census)
Family: Parents: John Green, Mary Green nee Thompson
Siblings: John George Green, Mary Green, George Green, Millie Green
Wife: Marian Henrietta Green nee Devlin
Children: John Ernest Green, William Green, Velma R. Green
Military service:
Private 528552
Canadian Army Medical Corps
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham | (Mod - Tullia, Durham University Intern)