Notes A birth registration was found for Ernest Haden: Year of Registration: 1898; Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep; District: Wolverhampton; County: Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands; Volume: 6b; Page: 664a. His parents were Samuel Haden (1870-1941) and Eliza Ellam (born 1871). They were married in 1894 in Heath Town, Staffordshire, England.
In 1901, Ernest Hader, 2 years of age, was shown as a visitor in the home of his maternal uncle, William Ellam, 31, boat dock unloader, at 14 Ulm(?) Street, Heath Town, Staffordshire, England. Other family members inlcluded: Eliza J. Ellam, 7 [EDITORS NOTE: This is actually Eliza J. Haden, the daughter of Samuel and Eliza Haden--she is denoted as a "niece" on the census return]; James Ellam, 4; Margaret Ann Ellam, 29; Richard Ellam, 5 months; William Ellam, 7; Eliza Hader, 28; Ernest Hader, 2; Samuel Hader, 31, boat dock unloader.
In 1909, Ernest Haden, 11 (along with his brother, William Haden, 6) arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a group of 130 children en route to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
In 1911, Ernest Urquhart, 14, is shown as the son of Alexander Urquhart of Boulardarie Island, Victoria County, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is shown as having been born in Nova Scotia April 1897.
On October 5, 1915, Ernest Haden enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces (Service Number: 222561; Force: Army; Unit: Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment); Division: 85th Bn.) He declared that he was born in Wolverhampton, England; that his next of kin was Alex Urquhart, who resided at Millville, Boulardarie, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; that his date of birth was April 10, 1897 (originally it stated 1898 but this was crossed out and the 7 placed over the 8); that he was a miner; and that he was not married. He was described as 5 foot 7-3/4 inches in height; medium complexion; brown eyes; brown hair. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith. He had a distinguishing mark of an oblique scar over proximal knuckle right index.
Private Ernest Haden died on May 6, 1917 in France. He was originally buried at LA CHAUDIERE MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais,France (Grave Reference: IV. C. 12). He was reinterred at BLACK ROCK CEMETERY, Boularderie Island, Victoria County, Nova Scotia, with his adopted family. His headstone reads:
Ernest Haden 85 Battn NS Highlanders
Killed in action 6 May 1917 age 21 yrs