Ernest Vansickle

Rank:

Lance Corporal

Regimental number:

55049

Unit at enlistment:

19th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

First Baptist Church, St. Luke Anglican Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

59 Grey Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

59 Grey Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Mechanic

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX December 11, 1915

Sig. E. Vansickle Is In Hospital – Former Boy Knight Reported to Have Been Wounded at the Front

Word has been received in the city of the wounding of Signaller Ernest Vansickle, who is now confined to No. 13 General hospital. It will be remembered that he and his father, WH. Vansickle, left with the 19th Battalion, with Major Newman. The father is now with the Brantford bomb-throwers. Signaller Ernest was a company leader of the Boy Knights and has always, from a youngster, tried to do his share along military lines. His mother resides at 59 Grey Street.

BX August 8, 1916

Father and Son Wounded

William Henry Vansickle and his son, Ernest, both of whom are in hospital from wounds, the former at Gosport, the latter at Ramsgate, where he may have to lose an arm by amputation.

BX September 29, 1917

Returned Invalided Soldiers

The following Brantford men are expected to leave Halifax on Saturday, Sept. 29 by the intercolonial and Grand Trunk. They may reach Toronto Sunday Morning, Sept. 30. Cpl. E. Van Sickle, Privates H. Reeve, W. O’Heron, E. Hall, H. Baird, C. Wells.

BX October 3, 1917

Veterans Were Not Met Here – No Word of Their Coming had Preceded Them – Were Unwelcomed

As a result of a laxness somewhere no word was received here yesterday as to the time of arrival of the expected party of returned veterans, so they arrived home unwelcomed. A deputation of returned soldiers, members of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and citizens, met the 7.33 train from Toronto but the men were all home by that time. Seven men in all arrived, four of them at 6.52 and the other three during the afternoon.

The party was not long held in Toronto as they just reached there at noon yesterday. The London bunch went through Brantford about the middle of the afternoon and a few relatives of the men expected were on hand but no Brantford men came with the party and the expectation was that they would arrive as usual at 7.33.

The men who returned yesterday are as far as is known the following: Corp. E. Vansickle, Private Harry Baird, H. Reeve, W. O’Heron, and E. Hall. In this party Lance Corp. Vansickle had probably suffered the most. He had been wounded 23 times at Vimy Ridge, as the result of a bursting shell. Pte. Harry Baird, who before enlisting was a brakeman on the G.T.R., has been at the front for three years. He is also badly off, having suffered seven wounds and is still suffering from shock.

Ald. M.M. MacBride returned from Toronto on the same train as the veterans last evening and he was thanked for assisting one home with his baggage. One of the veterans who came in last evening stated that he saw more lights in Brantford than he has seen in three years. He also remarked on the pleasure the men took in cleaning up huge platters of white bread when they reached Halifax. White bread and butter were great luxuries overseas and were enjoyed to the full on the return.

A veteran states that the Bantam Battalion has been found unfit for active service, conditions owing to their size, as a result of which, he states about half of them are returning to Canada, the balance having been absorbed by the Engineers.

BX January 7, 1915

Success of Signaller

Word has been received her of the promotion of Signaller Ernest Vansickle, who joined the 19th Battalion, now in training at Toronto, through the Dufferin Rifles second contingent, to head signaler for the staff at the camp. Vansickle joined the first contingent, and trained at Valcartier, but just before embarkation he was injured and invalided home. When the second call came he enlisted again, and was accepted. When asked by an officer to what he ascribed his rapid promotion he declared: “I try hard for the sake of my mother and her country, England, and for dear old Brantford.” The officer was heard to remark that Brantford would do well to send some more of this type.

BX December 23, 1962

Ernest Vansickle Sr.

Ernest Vansickle Sr., widely known in Brantford sports circles, died at his home Saturday night. He was 65. Mr. Vansickle enjoyed a varied sports career; ranging from airplane-racing to lacrosse. Born and raised in Brantford, Mr. Vansickle was one of the first pilots to take to the air with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. He also served in the Second World War with the Flying Commandos. Mr. Vansickle played professional lacrosse as a goaltender and also was prominent in hockey and baseball. In later years, he served in an executive capacity with many local teams.