Ernest William Stanbridge MM

Rank: 
Sergeant
Regimental number: 
59905
Unit at enlistment: 
21st Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
Greater London
Birth city: 
London
Address at enlistment: 
Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Servant
Employer: 
Royal Military College
Religious denominations: 
Church of England
Marital status: 
Married
Age at enlistment: 
28

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 29701

Date: August 10, 1916
Authority: Genl. Turner
Date: June 8, 1916
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Name: Ernest William Stanbridge (59905)
Unit: 21st Battalion

For exceptional daring and coolness at St. Eloi on the nights of the 8th and 9th April 1916, in leading three parties into “No Man’s Land” to rescue wounded comrades under heavy artillery and Machine Gun fire.  After his Platoon Commander and Platoon Sgt. had become casualties he displayed great coolness in commanding his platoon in an exposed position.

BX November 3, 1916
 
More Returned Heroes Coming

Five more returned soldiers have arrived back from England and are expected soon in Brantford. Two of these men are thought to be from the 125th Battalion, but the reasons for their return are unknown. Sergeant Stanbridge, 8 Dundas Street, and Private B.J. Meates, 30 Park Avenue, are now in Toronto. Privates J. Turner, A. Dodds, and William Farrington arrived at Quebec on the C.P.R. Liner Manitoba yesterday. A James Turner is given in The Expositor records as having enlisted with the 125th Battalion in December last year. He formerly lived at 11 Sterling Street, and is a married man. He had eight years experience with the Lancashire Fusiliers and a year and a half with the 38th “Duffs” prior to the outbreak of war. The only Dodd given in the Expositor records is A. Dodd in the 125th Battalion.

BX November 7, 1916

Two Veterans Returned Home

Two more veterans of the war, Sergt. E. Stanbridge, 8 Dundas St., and Pte. B.J. Meates, 30 Park Ave., who have been invalided home slipped quietly into the city over the weekend.

Sergeant Stanbridge, of the 21st Battalion, wore the Military Medal, and along with this he bore many wounds, which showed what sort of time he had had. It was at St. Eloi that Sergt. Stanbridge won his medal in April when, after the Germans had been throwing big stuff on the trenches and the Canadians had charged them, he brought in several wounded men under severe shell and rifle fire and later brought in a wounded officer. After he had done this he held the trench when the Germans attacked, but was badly wounded in the right leg and body. He hails from Kingston, but he will live in Brantford.

BX September 18, 1917

Letter to the Editor

Would Have Aliens Enlisted 

Dear Sir,

I am a returned soldier and as such would like to ask the Government why our British and Canadian born men should have to do all the dirty work in this gigantic struggle for right, honor and freedom. Truly it is a free country and our alien enemies know it. No wonder they rejoice to our fair land when they can obtain more money, better employment, and be free from war. Now this is a question that is asked by all, “how is it that these foreigners are not called upon to enlist.”  These men are just as able-bodied to fight and help our comrades in the trenches who are daily asking for reinforcements. Is it not enough to break their hearts as well as our own to stop and think of these aliens enjoying the freedom of home here whilst our blood is shed wholesale so that these aliens might live and enjoy all the freedom of our fair Canada. If Canada is worth living in, in worthy of being such a free land, why should not the foreign element take hold and defend it?  They are today stating they will not fight for our King and Country and our beloved flag under which they live in happiness. If the government does not want to force them to join our great army, then do one of the following three things which I strongly recommend and would gladly endorse:

Put them on government roads to work for a small wage, and make them help to build up some for the benefit of the country

If this is not suitable interne the whole lot of them.

If the first and second clauses are impossible, ship them to their own land, which is the best of the three clauses, as we all know the bigger number left their country as they should not fight.

In conclusion the government knows that they are telling us we have to live on less and not waste, for all is need to help win the war, and yet we are to be allowed to feed our alien enemies and by doing so cut not only ourselves of but our gallant men who hold the line against overwhelming odds on the road to Calais.

E.W. Stanbridge,
A Returned Soldier