Lieutenant Ernest Ford Crossland Window

A stained glass window at the Church of St. Aidan was dedicated to parishioner Lieutenant Ernest Ford Crossland who had served in the Royal Air Force during the First World War.

Ernest was born in Toronto, Ontario on 21 July 1895, to Ernest F. Crossland, vice-president of Steele-Briggs Seed Co., and Margaret G. Crossland. He was working as a bank clerk at the Bank of Hamilton when war broke out in August of 1914; on the 21st of that month, he joined The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada militia before being commissioned as a lieutenant in the 3rd, then later the 12th, Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. After serving 17 months on the Western Front, he was sent home to command the 208th Battalion before being selected to train with the Royal Air Force in Oxford, England. In 1918, Crossland returned home to Toronto, Ontario, where he died of pneumonia at his parent’s home on October 20.

To the Glory of God and In Loving Memory of Ernest Ford Crossland Lieut. 83rd Squadron R.A.F.
Leaside Formerly Lieut. 45th Squadron F.F.C France Originally Private No 9428, 3rd Battn. 1st Division
C.E.F. 1914, who died Sunday October 10th 1918 Age 23 years 8 months.