Ernest entered the war in France on 9th September 1914 as part of the Regimental Medical Officer's team for the 1st Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment. He was still serving with the regiment on 16th July 1915 when a requested was sent by their Medical Officer to the A.D.M.S. requesting that he be made a second class nursing orderly. This request was approved by the D.D.M.S., VI Corps.