Perrault, Ernest Joseph

Born on 16 October 1892 in Rat Portage (later named Kenora), Ontario, Ernest Joseph Perrault was the eldest son of Joseph and Exilda (née Favreau) Perrault who were originally from  Quebec, very much a Catholic French Canadian family. He was a direct descendent of Nicholas Perrot, an early explorer and diplomat that came to Canada in the mid 1600’s and eventually married a King Louis 14th fille du roi. His parents married in Medicine Hat in 1890 but by 1892 when Ernest was born they were living  in Rat Portage (Kenora).

Ernest had  6 siblings: Rose Alba (William) King, Eva Grace (James) Ryan, Laura Marie (Albert) Sawkins, Joseph Albert (Edna Bailey), Oscar Adelard (Pauline Gaudard), and Edna Cora (Albert) Major.  At age 19,  he joined the CPR in 1911 and by the time of the war, was working as a trainman.

Private Ernest Joseph Perrault signed his recruitment papers on 9 January 1918 in Brandon, Manitoba having had his medical examination 18 November 1917 in Dauphin, Manitoba. Assigned to the 1st Depot Battalion Manitoba Regiment, he embarked from Halifax on 19 February 1918 aboard the Megantic, arriving in Liverpool on the 4th of March. After arriving he spent some time at Seaford training. Struck off strength from the 11th Reserve Battalion he arrived in France in mid September to serve with the 16th Battalion. Returning to England in early March of 1919, he embarked for Canada aboard the Belgic, leaving Liverpool on 16 April 1919 and arriving in Halifax on the 23rd. Ernest was discharged from service on 27 April in Winnipeg.

Once home  Ernest married Jane Clark Meek, formerly of Kisbey Saskatchewan, on 7 December 1920 in Kenora. The couple went on to  have  two children, Ernest Gerald and Roy Alexander.  A conductor for the CPR, Ernest retired on 1 November 1957 in Kenora.

Ernest Perrault died on 23 April 1973 and his wife Jane on 22 March 1998. Both are interred in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora.

by Judy Stockham

« Back To Soldier Biographies