Bandsman Ernie Lee sits quietly behind his Bass Trombone, the anchor between the trombone and bass sections of Jubilee Brass, but when the music starts he comes to life, one eye on the music, the other on the conductor. He’s been doing this with confidence and competence for years, since the mid thirties at least.

But that’s not all that Ernie has been doing. For years he was the man behind the camera. Working for the London Free Press he was one of the first five photographers to receive a ‘Masters of Photography’ in 1967 followed by a “Fellowship award’ being the only one from the Free Press to receive either of these prestigious awards.

Ernie’s first introduction to a camera was during the depression when he observed his father carrying and old folding Ensign camera. Film was a luxury then so not many photographs were taken.

His first personal camera was a baby Brownie purchased in 1938. The first page of his first photo album displays a picture of the ‘largest locomotive’ he had ever seen, shot while on a band trip to Grand Forks North Dakota with the Winnipeg young people’s band. This was his start in the world of photography. He blew a whole roll of film on a lumber yard fire in Winnipeg that very same summer.

In the spring of 1940 photography was put on hold as 18 year old Ernie offered himself to the RCAF as a pilot. Since they only wanted University grads for the aircrew they enquired as to any other useful trades he may have possessed. When he replied that he played the trombone the response from the recruiter was a throaty laugh until Ernie mentioned that he played in the Winnipeg Citadel Band under Henry Merritt. It so happened that the RCAF was trying to recruit Henry to lead a band. Ernie was quickly presented with a form to sign up for the band. His ulterior motive in those days was to re-muster to Aircrew and, later on, that is exactly what he did.

His call to the Manning Pool band in Toronto came to him in Winnipeg by telegram thwarting what might have been a budding acting career as he was about to take the male lead in a drama at the church. Not ever having read a note in the bass clef he was assigned bass trombone in the band under a very English Kneller Hall type. You know the ones; “My way or the highway”. Though enjoying the band he still re-musterred to the Aircrew a year later, not forgetting his camera and interest in photography along the way.

Ernie was pinned with his pilot wings in Aylmer, Ontario subsequently flying at two stations before his posting overseas in 1944. He replaced his Boosey and Hawkes for a Mosquito and later Dakotas in the Air Transport Command. The P-51 Mustang was his favorite. He returned to Canada in 1946 still using his camera to great advantage and no little profit. Prints of station activities and crashes got his attention and over 100 prints were sold to station personnel-mostly pilots.

On his return to Canada he chose to settle in London, Ontario, joining the staff of the London Free Press. In less than a month he had won an award for one of his shots. Ernie remembers that, in 1946, the press camera was a Speed Graffic-4X5 sheet film, a bulky camera to operate. After a year of that he purchased a RolliFlex camera. This camera used roll fill which was smaller, lighter and much easier to operate. For digressing from the ‘issue’ camera he was called up on the carpet and told not to use it. Guess what? A year later each photographer was supplied with the very same camera. In the 50s he strayed again buying a 35mm Nikon. Same boss, same hassle, same result. The company supplied everyone with a Nikon. In the ensuing years Ernie covered every type of news story one could imagine from Royalty to grisly murders of all types.

Ernie was a part of a group of press and commercial photographers which formed a group for working photographers from across Canada in the 40s setting standards and holding classes at the Universities of Western Ontario, Carleton and York.

Only recently Ernie purchased a copy of a magazine containing ‘100 greatest railroad photos’ taken between 1940 and 2008. He found that one of his photos was included. The occasion was a 1968 inaugural train trip between Toronto and Montreal, trips that are deadly stories to illustrate as they are one big booze party. Not being a drinker, Ernie and three other photographers found themselves relegated to the Dome car at the rear of the train. Near Kingston the train hit a transport truck, nearly derailing the train and spewing debris all over the train. While everyone else ducked for cover Ernie got off three shots, one of which was printable. The photo was shown around the world. He’s still looking for the bonus or raise for that one.

As a Christian Salvationist Ernie found the post-war newsroom a rough-tough environment to survive in leading him to cancel his membership at the Press Club due to the language and smoking. Only he and one other employee attended Church on a regular basis. Not attending most of the staff parties did not go unnoticed. His active faith kept him going in the rough stuff. He didn’t preach his faith. He lived it.

Jubilee band members and readers of this web site. When you least expect it, Ernie may sneak up on you saying, “Smile, you’re on candid camera”!