Ernest Creighton

Police Constable 490, Toronto Police Force | Lieutenant, 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) CEF

Ernest Creighton, Police Constable No. 490 of the Toronto Police Force, was a single young man who lived at 19 McCaul St. Creighton had also served two years as a police officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary.

On August 30th 1915, Constable Creighton enlisted with Toronto’s 92nd Battalion (48th Highlanders) CEF, and after some local service, sailed to England on the SS Empress of Britain in May 1916 for further training.

Upon landing in France in October 1916, Creighton was transferred as a reinforcement to the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) CEF, and proceeded to the front. Creighton’s leadership and ability resulted in several promotions, and in September 1917, Creighton was sent to England for Officer Training. In early 1918, Creighton was commissioned as an officer, returning to the front as a Lieutenant, and rejoined his unit in April 1918 resuming his front line service.

On Thursday, August 8th 1918, on the opening day of the Battle of Amiens, Creighton was leading an assault through Hangard Wood, when killed by an enemy shell which exploded behind him.

Constable Ernest Creighton lies buried at Hangard Wood British Cemetery in France.

  • Research Sources:
  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 59. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 192477 Ernest Creighton.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries of the First World War – 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1918/07/18 – 1919/04/20.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Circumstances of Death Registers Card – No. 192477 Ernest Creighton.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 192477 Ernest Creighton.
  • Cookstown War Dead Database [website]. 192477 Lieutenant Ernest Creighton. Retrieved from http://www.cookstownwardead.co.uk/person.asp?casualtyid=305
  • Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News (1918, August 15th). “Lieutenant Ernest Creighton”.
  • Toronto Public Library. 1914 Toronto City Directory, Page 672.