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Biography
Ernest Taylor
Ernest William Taylor (V.35807) was born November 5, 1921, in Belleville, Hastings County, Ontario, to parents Ernest and Edna (Vallance) Taylor. His parents were both English immigrants. His family eventually moved to 241 Wellington Street, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario.
Ernest graduated grade twelve at Stratford Collegiate Institute in 1939 at 18 years old, after which he worked for 6 months as a shoe clerk. During this time, he was also taking special studies at a night school. He took the following courses: first year mechanical drafting, Second year mechanical drafting, diesel engines, and shop mathematics.
He then worked at the CNR Motive Power Works in Stratford as a machinist’s apprentice at 40 cents an hour from 1940 until his enlistment in 1942. His general experience with CNR included working with all types of drills, boring mills, grinders and milling machines, diesel engine and fuel pump repairs, mechanical stoker repairs, shoes and wedges and general fitting and laying off.
Ernest signed his attestation papers on May 6, 1942, enlisting to the Royal Canadian Navy and initially posted at HMCS Prevost in London, Ontario, as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA) 5th Class. He was put on active service on May 14. Two days later he was transferred to HMCS Naden in Esquimalt, British Columbia, the primary RCN training centre for Western Canada.
ERA Taylor remained at Naden for just under five months until his transfer to land-based training centre HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton, Alberta, on October 3, 1942. Four months later, on February 18, 1942, he transferred to HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
On April 17, 1943, ERA Taylor was transferred to HMCS St. Francis (I93), a class destroyer that acted as a convoy escort across the Atlantic. This, he would tell his children, was his favourite ship to which he was posted. Five months later, on September 9, 1943, ERA Taylor was promoted from 5th to 4th Class.
On December 5, 1943, ERA Taylor returned to HMCS Stadacona until his transfer to HMCS Niobe in Greenock, Scotland, 13 days later. On February 3, 1944, ERA Taylor was appointed to HMS Stayner (K573), a frigate of the British Royal Navy. He was there for 10 days before returning to HMCS Niobe.
Another 10 days later, He was appointed to HMCS Prince Henry, an armed merchant cruiser. With this crew, ERA Taylor participated in operations in D-Day as a member of Combined Operations Command, followed by the invasion of southern France. During the Normandy invasion he piloted a landing craft from the HMCS Prince Henry. They remained in the Mediterranean before returning to London to refit in East Inda Dock. On April 15, 1945, the ship was paid off, and the following day, ERA Taylor returned to HMCS Niobe.
On April 19, 1945, ERA Taylor was posted to HMCS Peregrine, a shore establishment in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In June 1945, he is reported to have been attached to HMCS Shelburne and HMCS Cornwallis in Nova Scotia. While at Cormwallis, victory in Europe was achieved on May 8, 1945, so Ernest signed on to extend his naval career in the Pacific Theatre. He was assigned to the HMAS Penguin in Sydney, Australia, a posting that was cancelled due to the end of the war on September 2nd.
On September 6, 1945, ERA Taylor was reappointed to HMCS Prevost in Londonand was promoted from 4th Class to 3rd Class. On October 16, 1945, he was discharged from Prevost upon demobilization and to return to civil life. In total, ERA Taylor served 41 months with 24 months at sea. He participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (1939 to 1945), D-Day and the Normandy Campaign (June 1944), Operation Torch, the allied invasion of French North Africa (November 1942), the Sicily Campaign (July-August 1943), and the liberation of Greece (October 1944). While in service, Ernest completed CLES course in Trigonometry.
After returning home, Ernest went back to work at the CNR. He was married to Betty Doreen Sanderson, and together they had eight children, Karen Marlene, Lynda Janice, Barbara Joan, Brian Ross, Ellen Heather, Ruth Ann, Ross Ernest, and April Louise. Ernest passed away in May 1995 at 73 years old and was buried at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.
Medals from the Canadian Government:
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
The 1939 – 1945 Star
The Atlantic Star with the France and Germany Bar
The Italy Star
The War Medal 1939-1945
Medals from the Government of Greece:
WWII Greek Commemorative Medal 1941-1945