| Ernest Churchill Templeton was the second eldest son of James Bradley Templeton and Annie Kathleen Templeton. Ernest was born on 8th August 1890.
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| Ernest's enlistment papers describe him as been born in Abbeyleix in County Laois, which was then known as Queen's County. However, the 1901 census lists him as being born in County Armagh.
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| James Bradley Templeton was a Methodist minister who was born in County Leitrim about 1851.
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| The 1901 census lists Ernest C as age 10 living with the family at house 11 in Clonlee, Larne, County Antrim.
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| Family: James Bradley Templeton, Annie Kathleen Templeton, Charles Bradley Templeton (born on 29 December 1884), Richard James Templeton (born about 1885), Arthur Hancock Templeton (born 27 June 1887), Ernest Churchill Templeton (born 8 August 1890), Norman Denroche Templeton (born about 1893), Robert Hutchings Templeton (born 4 June 1895), George Victor Templeton (born about 1898).
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| Ernest Templeton attended the Royal School Dungannon between 1906 and 1908.
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| He continued his studies at Methodist College Belfast.
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| Ernest Templeton emigrated to Canada.
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| He started work the Canadian Bank of Commerce in March 1911.
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| The 1911 census does not list Ernest as living with the family at house 18 in Claremont Street, Belfast.
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| Ernest had served with the 60th Rifles for a time.
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| He was living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and working as a banker in the local branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce before enlisting.
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| On 13th September 1914, Ernest Templeton enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry in Valcartier Training Camp in Quebec. He gave his next of kin as his father, who was by that time living in Omagh, County Tyrone. He was 28 years old when he enlisted.
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| Private Ernest Templeton was a bomb instructor with his battalion. He was killed in an accident when a bomb burst in his hands on 25th May 1917. He was 27 years old.
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| Witness report dated 4th June 1917:
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| I was one of a party of seventy receiving bombing instruction under Lieutenant Welch at Houdain on 25th May 1917. Each man was to throw one live bomb in turn. Whilst waiting my turn, I saw a bomb thrown which did not explode. Corporal Templeton, who was the battalion bombing N.C.O., waited a few seconds, and then went forward, looked at the bomb, and apparently satisfied that it was alright,. Picked it up and walked back towards the point from which it was thrown. When he had gone a few yards the bomb exploded, killing Corporal Templeton and wounding Lieutenant Welch and Private Bickerton. I believe that it was accidental, and no one was in any way to blame. Witness: Private G W Claxton (907394). Witness: Private John O’Connell (622951)
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15 June 1917: Methodist Minister Bereaved
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| Official intimation is to hand that Ernest Templeton, Canadian Infantry, son of Rev J B Templeton, Methodist minister, Castlederg, has been killed as the result of an accident at the front. The deceased's brother, Corporal Charles Templeton, has been a prisoner of war in Germany for the past two years, and another brother is serving with the Canadian Army.
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| His brother Arthur Hancock Templeton, who had also joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce, enlisted with the 45th Battalion. Arthur survived the war.
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| Another brother, Robert Hutchings Templeton, enlisted in the Canadian Army on 21st May 1918. It seems he too survived the war.
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| Another brother, Corporal Charles Bradley Templeton, was a prisoner of war in Germany from 1915 and he too survived the war
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| Private Ernest Templeton is buried in Bruay a village in the Department of Pas-de-Calais, 6 kilometres south-west of Bethune. Personal His inscription reads: A LOVING SON A NOBLE CHRISTIAN
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| The CWGC record Private Ernest Churchill Templeton as the son of the Rev. J. Bradley Templeton, of Clones, Ireland.
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| Many thanks to Paul Kerr and the Royal School Dungannon for his research and all the information provided.
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