Ernest Edwin Ellis was born in Vancouver, British Columbia to George Edward and Hannah Ellis. He was trained and employed as a sign painter when he enlisted in Vancouver in August 1940. At the time of his enlistment, he stated his wishes to join the Merchant Marine and eventually become a commercial salmon fisherman.
Instead, he was assigned to the 4th Field Park Company in North Vancouver and sent to Camp Petawawa, Ontario for training with the re-designated 4th Field Park Squadron as part of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. He qualified as a Painters Helper in March 1941 and later as a Painter Group ‘B’ (Armoured). He qualified as a Driver class III in October and appointed Lance Corporal in November 1941 just before the Squadron was shipped to the United Kingdom. He qualified as Pioneer Group ‘C’ in October 1942 in England. Throughout his training, he was characterized as a smart young man who was a quick learner and good NCO material. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1943.
In November 1943, Ernest arrived in Italy as a member of the 5th Armoured Division Bridging Troop. Bridging Troops (and Platoons) were independent units but worked closely with Field Park Squadrons (and Companies). The squadron moved as the 5th Armoured Division advanced through Italy seeing action in the Liri Valley Campaign, the advance to Florence (during which Ernest was slightly wounded), and on to the Gothic Line in late August 1944.
Ironically having faced enemy action for the past eight months, Corporal Ernest Ellis was killed in a traffic accident on 15 September 1944. He and another Sapper were travelling south to Iesi (also spelled Jesi) on a motorcycle at about 35 miles per hour when an oncoming vehicle travelling in a convoy travelling north, pulled out and met them head-on. Corporal Ellis died of multiple injuries sustained in an accident. He is buried in Ancona War Cemetery.