Ernest was born in Leeds on 10 May, 1890. His parents were Arthur, b. 1853, and Mary, b. 1855. When he signed for Hunslet, the family was living at 7, St John's Terrace in west Leeds. Along with his 2 brothers, there was also a housekeeper living with them, showing that the family was in reasonable circumstances. Dad was a manager in a Wholesale Drapery company, and it's likely that Ernest worked alongside him, as his trade was a wholesale costing assistant. Within a few days of war being declared, Ernest joined up on 23rd September, 1914. Ernest seems to have been of Canadian descent so unsurprisingly, he joined the Canadian Army. They had marched through Leeds and had attracted many Leeds men to join them. His signing-on papers tell us he was 5ft 9ins (175cm), with chest expansion of 37ins. He had grey eyes, a dark complexion and dark brown hair. His distinguishing feature was a fleshy mole on his back. He was Church of England. At age 24yr, the big adventure had begun.
Unfortunately, Private 21120 Brearley was to have a short adventure. By September 1916, he was a member of the recently-formed Manitoba Regiment, an artillery division. After some time in Ypres, the Canadians had moved up to take part in the Battle of the Somme. At Courcelette, a new tactic, devised by the Canadian and Australian Commands involving use of artillery moving forward with the troops and the first use of tanks, was employed. This was effective but dangerous and some of the soldiers were hit by their own shrapnel. 24,000 Canadians were KIA, wounded or reported missing. Ernest was one of those reported missing in France. He is buried at Courcelette British Cemetery near Albert, France, in Grave 12, Plot 12, Row F. His body had been exhumed from the battlefield to be reburied there. He was 26yrs and had died on 26th Sept, 1916. His parents, now living on Kirkstall Avenue, were sent the Memorial Death Plaque, the Victory Medal and Star, and the British War Medal. He is also commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and in the Peace Tower, Ottawa.
Heritage Number 386. Signed from Headingley RU. Played full-back 7 appearances. 4 goals = 8 points. Debut v York. Seasons played: 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14.
Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower, Ottawa, Canada.
Hold and drag to see more detail in the image
